England Women Hit Out At FA Payments
Members of the England women’s football team have criticised the Football Association over player payments during the Women’s World Cup in China in September.
The England team reached the quarter-finals but, according to the players, only received £40 a day during the five weeks they spent out in China.
The players, who are all amateur and hold down full-time jobs, are also now claiming that fitness levels are now suffering as they work extra hours to claw back wages lost from their jobs whilst they were away.
‘Two months back from China, people are still working to recoup the money,’ said Chelsea striker Eniola Aluko.
‘We all feel the same, that we don’t feel respected. Players had to take unpaid leave and some are now not able to sustain training because they don’t have the time because of the money lost in China.
‘We are all grateful that we went to the World Cup but realistically we can’t sustain the level of progress because of employment issues.
‘Our fitness levels that were tested at the last camp were significantly lower than they were at the World Cup in China.’
An FA spokesman said investment in the women’s game had never been higher, stating that its investment in girls and women’s football, from grassroots to the elite teams, is £4.5m a year.
