Women's Football Newsletter: German Chancellor in equal pay call

German chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for equal pay between men’s and women’s games, especially at international level, and has said that there needs to be a broader discussion on the issue.

Scholz tweeted: “It’s 2022, and women and men should be paid equally. This also applies to sport, especially for national teams.”

After attending the Women’s European Championship final in London, Scholz held talks with the German Football Association (DFB) about the issue.

“My position on this is clear,” Scholz said afterwards. “We talked about how we can continue to help more girls and women get excited about football. Of course, the wages at such tournaments play a major role in this,” he said.

“That’s why it makes sense to discuss equal pay. I made the suggestion and I’m very grateful that there is a willingness to discuss this issue.”

Dortmund CEO advocates “for a causal justice"

Bernd Neuendorf, the president of the DFB, said “that equal work and success should also have the same value” adding: “I’m willing to discuss in our committees whether our payment system is up to date or whether it should be adjusted.”

However, speaking on the Kicker podcast before Scholz made his comments, Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke said he advocated “for a causal justice – if equal pay applies, then the income must also be the same.”

Watzke, who is part of the DFB Exco, said: “If we become world champions in Qatar, I estimate that the DFB will take in around €45 million. If we become European champions for women, then there will be €2.5 million. You can't say that the bonuses should be the same, that doesn't work."

He added in order to achieve equal pay, one must "stop talking about what should be now and try to align the streams of income and proceeds".

Bristol City manager victim of sexist tirade

Bristol City Women manager Lauren Smith revealed on social media that she was told to stay “in the kitchen” while watching the men's team Championship match against Sunderland.

Smith was present at Ashton Gate with her players at City’s 3-2 defeat and posted afterwards on Twitter about a comment made to her.

“Supporting @BristolCity with the team today, and was told women shouldn't be at the football but in the kitchen,” she wrote.

Smith invited her abuser to the Robins’ s home ground “to prove you very very wrong!”

A statement by the club condemned the abuse. “This behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at Ashton Gate. We fully support Lauren Smith and are proud of our women's team.”

No limit to women’s kit sales

One of the world’s leading sports apparel retailers has said there is no limit to the potential for women’s kit sales, with a 640 per cent online spike recorded after England’s Euro 2022 win over Germany.

“More women's merchandise was sold in just four hours following the final whistle than in the seven days leading up to the final,” Jack Boyle, Fanatics' global co-head of direct-to-consumer sales, told Reuters.

“It could be worth four or five times what it is today, but I hate to put a cap on it because I think it's unlimited,” Boyle said.

Extraordinary demand

Even before England’s historic victory, retailers were recording sell outs and unprecedented demand. The FA trebled its kit order in comparison to the 2019 World Cup in anticipation of high demand.

ASOS head of sportswear Timothy Williams told City Am. “We have seen extraordinary demand for and sales of the England Women’s Euro 22 home jersey due to the Lionesses’ fantastic performances.”

Netherlands coach leaves post after disappointing Euros

The Netherlands English manager Mark Parsons has left his role following the country’s quarter final exit at the Euros. The previous champions lost 1-0 to France in the last-eight match in July.

“An evaluation of the past period was carried out with various parties,” the Dutch FA (KNVB) said in a statement.

“This showed that there is too little confidence that the ambitions will be realised under the current leadership.”

Parsons, who became Dutch manager following a successful period coaching in the US, ironically took over from the winning coach Sarina Wiegman, who after leaving the Netherlands led his English compatriots to victory in last month’s final.

A part of top football

“The bar is high. The Netherlands were defending champions and also a finalist at the last World Cup - we want to participate for the prizes. With a view to the current World Cup qualifying series, it has been decided that someone else will be at the helm in the very short term,” KNVB member Jan Dirk van der Zee said.

“That is not a nice decision, but that is also part of top football.”

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