Women vs men’s Football: They Are Different Entities, Equally Important

In the wake of the latest tournament, Gareth Southgate’s status as one of England’s finest managers remains unshaken despite a recent loss. Southgate’s leadership has seen the men’s national team achieve remarkable feats, becoming the only England manager to qualify for two major tournament finals. This achievement is monumental, particularly given the country’s long-standing struggle for international football success. As Harry Kane succinctly put it, “We haven’t won anything as a nation for a long, long time.”

While Southgate’s accomplishments are indeed noteworthy, it’s crucial to remember the equally impressive feats of Sarina Wiegman and the Lionesses. They triumphed at the 2022 Euros and reached the World Cup final the following year. Unfortunately, their achievements often fade into the background, overshadowed by controversies such as the incident involving Luis Rubiales and Jenni Hermoso following Spain’s World Cup victory.

The tendency to compare men’s and women’s football is almost inevitable given their shared essence – the beautiful game. Some argue that women’s football is less skillful, while others maintain that it should be appreciated as a distinct entity, not a replication of men’s football. The latter perspective is more accurate. Women’s and men’s football are indeed different, shaped by inherent physical differences. Women, on average, are shorter, lighter, and slower than men, which affects gameplay tactics and strategies.

A 2019 Norwegian study even suggested adjusting the dimensions of the pitch, the size of the goal, and the weight of the ball to better suit female players. Such changes would be akin to men playing with a basketball instead of a football. These physical differences result in different playing styles: fewer intricate tiki-taka plays and more strategic long balls, with defensive tactics involving more players in the box to occupy space.

In other sports, gender-specific adaptations are common. Women use lighter discuses in athletics, lower nets in volleyball, and smaller balls in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Acknowledging these differences does not diminish the value of women’s sports. In fact, striving for gender equity involves recognizing and celebrating women’s achievements in their own right.

Andy Murray, for instance, has become a global feminist icon by correcting inaccuracies that overlook women’s accomplishments in tennis. When a journalist hailed Sam Querrey as the first American to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since 2009, Murray added, “male player.” Similarly, he corrected John Inverdale’s assertion that he was the first to win two Olympic gold medals in tennis, pointing out that Venus and Serena Williams had won four each.

The marginalisation of women’s sports is often more a product of laziness than outright patriarchy. Celebrating the men’s national team should not come at the expense of ignoring the women’s team’s triumphs. Simple linguistic adjustments – specifying “men’s” or “women’s” – can significantly rectify historical erasures of women’s accomplishments. Is that too much to ask?

Both the men’s and women’s England teams enjoy national support during major tournaments, unified by the chant “It’s coming home!” In 2022, the Lionesses made this a reality by winning the Euros, a landmark victory that highlighted the importance of investing in and supporting women’s football.

Despite progress, such as the FA’s equal match fees and bonuses for both England teams, disparities remain, especially at the club level. A study by Evoluted Digital PR underscores the stark differences between men’s and women’s football, examining aspects such as salaries, social media following, and viewership.

Disparities in Club Salaries

The wage gap in football is glaring. Male footballers in England earn significantly more than their female counterparts. For example, Chloe Kelly earns £75,000 annually, while Bukayo Saka earns £11,960,000 – nearly 15,847% more. Even at the managerial level, Sarina Wiegman’s £400,000 salary pales in comparison to Gareth Southgate’s £5,000,000, a 1150% difference despite both holding equivalent positions.

Equal Pay in National Tournaments

The FA pays its women players the same as the men for representing England in terms of match fees and bonuses. However, the women’s team has called for a performance-based bonus structure independent of FIFA prize money, similar to the Australian and American teams.

Steps Towards Equality

FIFA has committed to promoting equality in women’s football, with plans to achieve payment parity between the men’s and women’s World Cups by 2026 and 2027. This includes significant prize money allocations and additional funds to support Women’s World Cup preparations.

Men’s and women’s football are different, shaped by physical and tactical differences, but one is not less important than the other. Recognizing and celebrating the achievements of both is essential for achieving true gender equity in sports. As we continue to support and invest in women’s football, we pave the way for a more inclusive and equal sporting world.

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