Closing the Gender Gap in Football - How Much Progress Have We Made?

 Women’s football has seen unprecedented growth over the past decade with the success of England’s Lionesses widening the sport’s audience and levels of involvement at grassroots level. In the 2021/22 season, increased broadcast and commercial revenue meant the aggregate revenue for the 12 Women’s Super League teams (the highest league of women’s football in England (the WSL)) increased by 60% compared to the previous year.[1] Matchday attendances have also boasted a significant increase of nearly 200% following the England national team’s victory in the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Women’s Euros translating into higher levels of engagement in domestic leagues.[2] However, whilst significant progress has been made, pre-pandemic figures highlighted that only 40% of youth teams have a female team and only 650,000 women played football in England compared to 3.8 million men.[3] It is abundantly clear that the global landscape of women’s football is evolving and expanding but how close is the gender gap to being closed?

This article will examine the significance of the 1921 ban that was imposed on women’s football and the progress that has been made since. Subsequently, recent events that have arguably marred the success of women’s football will be exposed and critiqued to illustrate that much more work is needed to eradicate sexism and inequality from the sport.

History of the Women’s Game in England

[Picture Credit: The FA, accessed on https://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/heritage/kicking-down-barriers#:~:text=The%20FA%20were%20coming%20under,to%20rescind%20the%201921%20resolution.]

The British Ladies’ Football Club (BLFC) was formed in London in 1895 and arranged a North v South of the Thames match for March of that year. The North won the 60 minute match 7-1 in front of over 10,000 paying spectators, catalysing the growth of the game and highlighting the growing women’s rights movement.[4] By 1921, England boasted over 150 women’s football clubs with a Boxing Day match in 1920 reportedly attracting 53,000 fans.[5] [6]

 The future of the sport looked promising until in December of that year The Football Association (the governing body of association football in England (The FA)) announced a ban on the women’s game, stating “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged”.[7] This meant female football matches could not be played at professional grounds or pitches of any clubs affiliated with The FA or be refereed by registered officials, relegating the game to public parks.

However, by the 1960s and 70s public opinion on the role of women not only in football but in society was beginning to change. The second-wave of feminism, spearheaded by the Women’s Liberation Movement (WLM), encouraged a gender revolution. Women began to campaign for equal participation in public, economic and political life, as well as demanding control over their own bodies and reproductive rights.[8] Eventually this accumulated in the passing of the NHS Family Planning Act 1967 which made the contraceptive pill more widely accessible and the Equal Pay Act that was given Royal Assent in 1970 in a landmark moment for equality between genders. This political background reinvigorated the fight to denounce football as a gendered sport and remove barriers preventing women from playing football.[9]

The England men’s World Cup victory in 1966 further incentivised a drive towards the return of women’s clubs. Building on this momentum, Arthur Hobbs (leader of a local women’s team in Deal) organised a tournament in 1967 to inspire more women to join the sport.[10] Despite the men’s team Deal Town FC offering their support, the FA prohibited use of the pitch to host the tournament citing the 1921 ban. Nevertheless, Hobbs was undeterred and approached local MP David Ennals who supported his plan and arranged for Betteshanger Colliery to provide the ground.[11] The first competition took place between local workplace teams but the tournament continued to garner interest and by 1969 52 teams from across the country took part.[12] Hobbs recognised the injustice that the ban represented and not only fought to change societal attitudes towards the women’s game but also went on to co-found the Women’s FA (WFA) with Patricia Gregory in 1969, generating new momentum in favour of the sport. Pressure from the WFA and UEFA eventually persuaded The FA Council to vote to overturn the ban in 1970, declassifying women’s football as ‘unaffiliated’ after 50 years.

 The years that followed saw major developments with the introduction of a strategic plan to develop the women’s game in the 1990s, the creation of a national league and its subsequent expansion to multiple divisions. In 1991, FIFA (The Federation Internationale de Football Association - the international governing body of association football) introduced the women’s World Cup competition, 61 years after the men’s equivalent was first held, and by 1999 the final held in the USA boasted a sold out stadium with a 90,000 capacity crowd.[13] Nevertheless, the legacy of the ban has meant the women’s game is still only in the early stages of its development; the Women’s Super League only became fully professional in 2018 but looks to have a promising future ahead.[14]

 The Lionesses Euros Win

Increased investment in the sport by The FA and Sport England transformed England’s national team into a serious contender in international competitions, culminating in the Lionesses winning at Wembley in the UEFA Women’s EURO final in 2022 with a record breaking 87,192 attendees and 17.4 million TV viewers in England.[15] Globally the competition had a projected live viewership of 365 million people across 195 territories.[16] Winning the competition felt like such a momentous moment with even the Queen acknowledging the Lionesses as “an inspiration for girls and women today, and for future generations”[17].

 Following the final, the Lionesses penned an open letter to Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss (the Tory leadership candidates at the time) campaigning for equal opportunities for girls to play football within the school curriculum, break times and clubs. The demands of the #LetGirlsPlay campaign launched in conjunction with The FA were met, prompting the Government to set out new standards for equal access to sports in PE and extracurricular time.[18] Furthermore, post-tournament analysis by UEFA and The FA outlining the key impacts notes that over 416,000 new opportunities were created in English schools, clubs and the community focused on engaging women and girls in grassroots football,[19] providing a lasting legacy for the competition. This is a step closer to eliminating the redundant historical attitudes by instead aligning football with mainstream societal beliefs that sport should be equally accessible to all.

Spain and The World Cup Final Controversy - The Ongoing Issue of Consent and Sexism within in the Game: 

Accessed on- https://eu.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/sports/soccer/worldcup/2023/07/20/2023-womens-world-cup-best-photos-from-fifa-tournament/12270455002/

(An example that emphasises that progress is not linear and highlights that issues of consent and sexism that are embedded within society emerge on the field.)

 This summer England’s Lionesses once again inspired the nation and reached their first FIFA World Cup Final only to lose 1-0 to Spain. However, what should have been a time for celebration, not only for Spain but for women’s football, was overshadowed by a kiss that dominated global headlines. During the post-match presentation ceremony the then Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales was embroiled in a public scandal when he kissed Spanish forward Jenni Hermoso on the lips and grabbed his crotch to celebrate the victory. The incident sparked outcry with Rubiales eventually leaving his role in September. At the end of October FIFA announced that they would be imposing a three year ban on Rubiales for breaching Article 13 of its disciplinary code, in relation to offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play. Rubiales has indicated his intention to appeal this decision, stating on his social media that he would “go to the last resort to see that justice is done and that the truth shines through”[20] having previously claimed he was a victim of a “social assassination”[21].

 Despite Rubiales denying the allegations and claiming the kiss was mutual, Hermoso has consistently stated it was not and has even filed a legal complaint against him. In a hearing, the national court in Madrid considered a criminal complaint of sexual assault and coercion against Rubiales where a judge banned him from going with 200m of the footballer.[22] A judge is currently undertaking a preliminary investigation into whether the accusations should go to trial. The national court, however, has not restricted the scope of the inquiry to Rubiales; other officials in the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) are being investigated as Hermoso  claims that federation officials did not protect her and persistently tried to convince her to absolve Rubiales from blame.[23]  She alleges that officials asked her to sign a press statement indicating that the kiss was mutual before the team bus left the stadium and attempted to use her family to talk to her on a celebratory trip to Ibiza (among other incidents).

 Hermoso has since spoken out about feeling “disrespected” as a player and a person.[24]

The incident received widespread criticism and resulted in Spanish players boycotting the national team until changes to the federation were made, shining a light on issues that usually take place behind closed doors and were perhaps not previously taken seriously. Ultimately, this may highlight that despite all of the progress, sexism is still prominent in the game. The only positive that can be taken from the Rubiales kiss is that the incident has been met with global condemnation, suggesting that this is being taken seriously and not being tolerated or swept under the carpet.

Signs All is Still Not Equal - The Financing and Recognition of Women’s Football

 Following the World Cup, there have been further events that have served to remind people that the gap between the men’s and the women’s game is still apparent. It would have been difficult to miss recent newspaper headlines highlighting Messi’s record breaking 8th Ballon D’Or win with Barcelona player Aitana Bonmati winning the female equivalent that was only introduced in 2018. However, there are still no women’s equivalents for the best goalkeeper (Yachine trophy), best young player (Kopa trophy) or the highest scoring striker (Gerd Muller trophy). Moreover, the scheduling of the event in the middle of a women’s international window meant that most of the female nominees were unable or not permitted to attend the “potentially once in a lifetime opportunity”[25]. For some, this is illustrative of the continued systemic treatment of women as secondary throughout football.

 One of the most controversial debates in football regards the difference in salary between male and female athletes. In 2022 it was estimated that the average annual salary of a Premier League footballer was a staggering £2,800,000 compared to £30,000 for a WSL footballer.[26] This pay gap is not limited to the players, with Gareth Southgate (England men’s team manager) reportedly earning over 12 times as much as England Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman, despite the men’s team not winning a major trophy since 1966.[27] Similarly, prize money also has unequal status. Although the prize money from the Women’s FA Cup has increased from £430,000 to nearly £3 million, it remains far behind the men’s fund of £20 million.[28] Football clubs and sporting bodies would justify this by claiming that according to The Equal Pay Act 1970, male and female footballers do not currently produce work of equal value.[29] This claim could be supported by pointing to the larger viewership and substantially higher revenue that is generated by men’s football. Nevertheless, regardless of the differing views on whether astronomically different salaries can be justified, it is clear that the disparity is indicative of how significant the gap still is. Some progress has been made in this department, however, with The FA now paying both male and female footballers identical match fees and bonuses when they represent England.[30]

Conclusion

In the past, football has been used as a tool of patriarchy but women’s football has persevered and in recent years has seen incredible growth despite having been unjustifiably held back for so long.[31] However, despite the social and economic value of the game receiving increased recognition, areas of the game are still playing catch up, including salaries, healthcare, prize money and facilities. It appears as though in some areas the women’s game is still treated as second class (especially in the lower leagues) and it is unacceptable for footballers to ever be subjected to blatant sexism or discrimination as has been described above.[32] Ultimately, it seems as though there is still a long way to go to close the gender gap.

[1] Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, ‘A balancing act Annual Review of Football Finance 2023 (Women's Super League club revenues)’ (Deloitte, June 2023) p3 <https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/sports-business-group/articles/annual-review-of-football-finance-womens-super-league.html> accessed 9 November 2023

[2] ibid p30

[3] Anna Shiels, ‘Tackling inequities and the gender activity gap through football’ (Sport England, 6 July 2022) <https://www.sportengland.org/blogs/tackling-inequities-and-gender-activity-gap-through-football> accessed 9 November 2023

[4] ‘The Story of Women’s Football in England’ (The FA) <https://www.thefa.com/womens-girls-football/heritage/kicking-down-barriers> accessed 9 November 2023

[5] The FA (n4)

[6] Amy Lewis ‘How women's football was banned for 50 years in England’ ITV News (1 August 2022) <https://www.itv.com/news/2022-08-01/how-womens-football-was-banned-for-50-years-in-england> accessed 9 November 2023

[7] ibid

[8] Lynn Prince Cooke, ‘Gender revolution, evolution or neverlution?’ (IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities, 6 December 2021) <https://ifs.org.uk/inequality/gender-revolution-evolution-or-neverlution> accessed 9 November 2023

[9] Anaïs Bohuon, Gregory Quin and Philippe Vonnard, ‘The gender of football’ (EHNE, 22 June 2020) <https://ehne.fr/en/encyclopedia/themes/gender-and-europe/gendered-body/gender-football#:~:text=Women's%20football%20has%20nevertheless%20struggled,as%20national%20and%20international%20organizations.> accessed 9 November 2023

[10] Sam Williams, ‘The rise of women's football after it was banned, and how a Deal man helped establish the WFA’ Kent Online (8 March 2022) <https://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/the-rise-of-womens-football-263532/> accessed 9 November 2023

[11] ibid

[12] ibid

[13] The FA (n4)

[14] Department for Culture, Media and Sport, ‘Raising the bar - reframing the opportunity in women’s football’ (Government, 17 July 2023) <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/raising-the-bar-reframing-the-opportunity-in-womens-football/raising-the-bar-reframing-the-opportunity-in-womens-football> accessed 9 November 2023

[15] Trevor Stynes, ‘Women's World Cup final draws record TV figures in Spain, England’ (Reuters, 22 August 2023)

<https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/womens-world-cup-final-draws-record-tv-figures-spain-england-2023-08-21/> accessed 9 November 2023

[16] The FA and UEFA, ‘UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 impact and legacy revealed in post-tournament flash report’ (England Football, 4 October 2022) <https://www.englandfootball.com/articles/2022/Oct/04/EURO-2022-flash-impact-report> accessed 9 November 2023

[17] Newsround ‘Euro 2022: Reaction to the Lionesses historic win’ (CBBC, BBC, 1 August 2022) <https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/62375472> accessed 9 November 2023

[18] Department for Education, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Department of Health and Social Care, ‘Press Release: School sports given huge boost to level the playing field for next generation of Lionesses

(Department, 8 March 2023) <https://www.gov.uk/government/news/school-sports-given-huge-boost-to-level-the-playing-field-for-next-generation-of-lionesses#:~:text=equal%20access%20to%20sports%20in,refreshed%20School%20Sport%20Action%20Plan> accessed 9 March 2023

[19] The FA and UEFA (n16)

[20] ‘Luis Rubiales: Ex-Spanish football federation chief given three-year ban by Fifa’ (BBC Sport, 30 October 2023) <https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67262447.amp> accessed 9 November 2023

[21] ibid

[22] ibid

[23] Paul Kirby, ‘Spain's Hermoso says image tarnished by Rubiales World Cup kiss’ BBC News (London, 10 October 2023) <https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67063403.amp> accessed 9 November 2023

[24] ibid

[25] Sophie Lawson, ‘ Women's Ballon d'Or mess shows soccer has a long way to go‘ (ESPN, 1 November 2023) <https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/38786530/womens-ballon-dor-mess-shows-soccer-long-way-go?platform=amp> accessed 9 November 2023

[26] Hamed Ovaisi, ‘Women's football: Equal pay for equal play?’ (So Legal, 20 October 2022) <https://www.solegal.co.uk/insights/womens-football-equal-pay-equal-play> accessed 9 November 2023

[27] ibid

[28] Department for Culture, Media and Sport (n14)

[29] Hamed Ovaisi (n26)

[30] Rebecca Williams, ‘England men's and women's teams receive equal pay, FA announces

‘ Sky News (3 September 2020) <https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/12062579/england-mens-and-womens-teams-receive-equal-pay-fa-announces> accessed 9 November 2023

[31] Ibid (n28)

[32] Women in Sport, ‘It’s time to stop tolerating inequality’ (Women in Sport, 14 July 2023) <https://womeninsport.org/news/its-time-to-stop-tolerating-inequality/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAgK2qBhCHARIsAGACuznxal8orR8IZoaHcwUTVw7JeqCe_oxaUWnQtXNon3bEOea8kzbvOsEaAjeGEALw_wcB> accessed 9 November