Aurora (a fictional name) has made headlines as a starter in a LaLiga F club after being promoted from the youth team due to injuries among her teammates. This young athlete, still in her school years, began last season training with the first team and ended up playing numerous matches as a starting player. However, her salary and working conditions starkly contrast with those of most of her female colleagues. “I have to juggle my life to balance studies and training, alongside travel for matches,” she shares with EL MUNDO.
According to the previous agreement for footballers in LaLiga F, after fulfilling 12 call-ups with the first team or playing 10 matches, players were expected to transition to professional contracts. Unfortunately, Aurora fell just short of that threshold, and under the new agreement for women’s football that took effect in April, her progress resets each season. “It’s not fair that a 13 or 14-year-old has residency, a salary, and a guarantee of a future, while I don’t,” she adds. “We generate income from ticket sales, whereas the boy does not.”
This dissatisfaction highlights one of the key disputes that divided women’s football during negotiations for the new agreement. Critics argue that it “equates professional female players with those in the Primera RFEF.” The AFE and UGT described the document as a “regression” that fails to improve upon the previous terms and does not significantly reduce the disparity compared to the men’s agreement. In contrast, FUTPRO, Futbolistas ON, and CCOO have endorsed what they consider a “brilliant” text regarding social issues.
Beyond including provisions on harassment, maternity, and work-life balance—which all unions understandably support—AFE claims there are detrimental points affecting approximately 30% of footballers. One pertinent issue concerns the transition from youth to the first team, impacting around 80 of the 350 players in the top division. Although FUTPRO asserts not all players wish to revert to the previous status quo, as the increased visibility through television allows better chances for transfers to more prominent clubs, AFE warns this is “a strategy used by clubs to minimize salary expenses.”
The financial aspect of this situation is significant. In fact, the salary standards for LaLiga F are aligned with those of third-tier footballers in Spain who do not enjoy professional status. The minimum salary for Primera RFEF is set at €30,000 , while for Liga F, it is established at €22,500 for the current season and €23,500 for the next. These amounts could be adjusted based on increased competition revenues, an agreement reached in 2023 following a strike from female players.
Antiquity Bonus
Another contentious issue is the Antiquity Bonus, previously known as the Antiquity Award. This financial incentive is granted to footballers who remain with the same club for over three years, amounting to €800 . Under the former agreement, this bonus was €2,000 after six seasons. The most concerning aspect of the change is that it disregards prior seasons before that three-year mark, essentially stripping players of benefits they previously earned. “There have been many disagreements regarding compensation. They’ve attempted to rebrand and rename concepts, but there are no real changes,” confesses one affected player.
FUTPRO argues that the number of players losing this right is minimal, as most do not stay more than “three or four years” with a single club. Additionally, they assert that reaching three years is more feasible than six, which was the requirement under the previous text for women’s football.
The female footballers are fully aware of the income disparity between men’s and women’s football. Consequently, AFE is demanding better treatment, particularly from the Ministry led by Yolanda Díaz, who has highlighted the importance of gender equality across various sectors, including sports. “I have felt the precariousness in terms of salary, and now that we’ve secured a foundational agreement (the first), we are transitioning to one that doesn’t substantially improve the situation. We’ve moved from a prefab house to another identical structure, just decorated,” comments a veteran player.