The previous European Championships in the Netherlands set records on the assembly line. Now, five years later, women’s football has taken a quantum leap. In the last year, spectator records have been set all over Europe, including Norway. UEFA’s women’s football manager Nadine Kessler stated before the European Championships that the championship gives them a platform to build on. – The big steps to women’s football will continue to change people’s perception of the positive, but we want to do more, Kessler said. But how much have they invested in the championship? Uefa has pointed out that the European Championship pot has doubled from 8 to 16 million euros. At the same time, the men’s prize pool increased by 70 million euros. In total, the prize pool for men was 371 million euros. In other words, women’s premium money makes up 4.3 per cent of men’s. – I am not surprised, because I know that the attitude within UEFA is that women’s football is still a losing project, says Caroline Graham Hansen to news. JOY: Italy could cheer for a European Championship victory and a cash prize that is much bigger than what the winner of the women’s European Championship will get. Photo: MICHAEL REGAN / AFP – Second-class tournament She won everything in Spain last season with Barcelona and filled the Camp Nou with over 90,000 spectators two games in a row. In addition, audience records have been set across Europe. Hansen feels Uefa is lagging behind. – The fact that there are such big differences is still just sad. The more money Uefa puts in the pot, the more money people will spend on equipping their teams because then they see that there is money to be made. Then the product will be better for those who come and watch. For me, it is clear that more should have been invested, Hansen says and adds: – It feels like a vicious circle, and you hear it from different quarters, that there are many old attitudes that make things slow down. Nor is news’s sports commentator Jan Petter Saltvedt further impressed. – With this, Uefa still sends a single signal: Women and girls are second-rate football players and the European Championships a second-rate tournament for them, which is the exact opposite of what they should do, Saltvedt says. SECOND-FOOTBALL PLAYERS: Jan Petter Saltvedt thinks Uefa downgrades women’s football. Photo: ALEM ZEBIZ Niso leader Erlend Hanstveit shares the frustration over the differences. Hanstveit works actively with its Nordic colleagues to even out the differences. Both against Uefa, Fifa and the global player organization Fifpro with 65,000 players. He points to several things that need to change. – It’s about everything from producing collections that are suitable for women, because it has not been obvious until now, to the number of cameras, how to travel, where you live and so on. It is the entire ecosystem that must change, says Hanstveit. The differences between the EC 2021 and the EC 2022 Cash prizes Men: Participation in the EC: 9,250,000 euros Draw result in the group game: 750,000 euros Win in the group game: 1,500,000 euros 16-part final: 2,000,000 euros Quarter-final: 3,250,000 euros Semifinal: 5 000 000 euros Final loss: 7 000 000 euro Winner: 10 000 000 euro Women: Participation in the EC: 600 000 euro Draw result in the group game: 50 000 euro Win in the group game: 100 000 euro Quarter final: 205 000 euro Semifinal: 320 000 euro Final loss: 420,000 euros Winner: 660,000 euros Production Men: 36 cameras on every single match in the tournament. Women: 15 cameras in the group stage 18 cameras in the quarterfinals 20 cameras in the semifinals 21 cameras in the finals Stadiums Men: Amsterdam ArenA: 54,000 seats Baku National Stadium: 69,000 seats Estadio de San Mamés: 53,000 seats National Arena Bucharest: 54,000 seats Puskás Ferenc Stadium: 68,000 seats Parken Stadium: 38,000 seats Aviva Stadium: 51,000 seats Hampden Park: 51,000 seats Wembley Stadium: 90,000 seats Allianz Arena: 70,000 seats Stadio Olimpico: 68,000 seats Zenit-Arena Saint Petersburg: 61,000 seats Women: Amex Stadium: 30,000 seats Brentford Community Stadium: 17,000 seats Wembley Stadium: 90,000 seats Manchester City Academy Stadium: 4,700 seats Stadium MK: 30,000 seats New York Stadium: 12,000 seats Bramall Lane: 30,000 seats Mary’s Stadium: 32,000 seats Old Trafford: 75,000 seats Leigh Sports Village: 8,000 seats – Two steps forward, one back The differences are also evident in areas other than prize money and stadium facilities. During last year’s European Championships, there were 36 cameras in all stadiums and matches. In the women’s championships, there will only be 15 cameras during the group stage, and 21 during the final. That is less than it was during all the matches in the men’s European Championship last year. – There will not be a revolutionary development in one day, it is steady then. Two steps forward, one back, says Ada Hegerberg to news. The Champions League winner says she has a very divided relationship with the differences between the championships. The most important thing for the tip is to try to influence things to get a little better every day. COMMITTED: Ada Hegerberg gets involved when she discusses the difference between men and women in football. Photo: Helene Mariussen / news – We just have to perform, and constantly push so the wheel just keeps rolling, says Hegerberg. Despite the big gap between the two championships, things have gotten better. – But then it is the case that it goes up for the men as well, so the gap does not get smaller. We experience that things get better and better for us, but if you compare with them there is a big difference, says Ingrid Syrstad Engen. Market forces determine Uefa takes little self-criticism for the financial differences between the championships. – Uefa spends more money on women’s football and their championships than ever before, the media department writes in an e-mail to a news. – We use a model that is designed to ensure long-term sustainability for women’s football. The money distributed reflects the profits and costs of the championship, and is on a par with other Uefa championships. Professor of market economics at NTNU, Harry Arne Solberg, understands the argument. THE MARKET DECIDES: Professor of market economics at NTNU, Harry Arne Solberg, understands why there are such big differences. Photo: Amund Aune Nilsen / news – Market forces are not politically correct, and Uefa cannot determine prices. Women’s football will increase in value, but then men’s football will not stand still, either. But it may take less time in national team football versus club football because the competition is smaller, Solberg tells news. – Should Uefa invest more out of its own pocket to raise the product? – To a certain extent, they can subsidize, because they have large income from men’s football. But then they can also not decide whether there will be a bidding war for the rights, says Solberg. – Does not come by itself Hanstveit misses a weight behind the opinions of Uefa, and misses a proper investment in women’s football. – When Uefa beat themselves on the chest with the fact that they have doubled from 8 to 16 million euros, but at the same time increase the men’s pot by 70, there is not enough weight behind the will to say, Hanstveit says. – The logic you have to use is that you have to invest to get results. That investment must take place without it paying off immediately, the Niso leader believes. WANTS CHANGE: Niso leader Erlend Hanstveit misses a willingness from Uefa to invest in women’s football. Photo: Henrik Myhr Nielsen In other words, he disagrees with both Uefa and Solberg. – Men’s football has been built up for 100 years, and money generates itself automatically. To get the women’s promise, you have to invest properly. It does not come by itself. I do not say that Uefa believes that, but I wish they were more forward-looking, says Hanstveit. Saltvedt shares this view. – With the gratifying increase in awareness of women’s football throughout Europe in recent years, including in the media, Uefa should also follow up on this. They definitely have the money, but they obviously lack the will, says Saltvedt.
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