Nearly half of female footballers surveyed consider leaving the sport early, report finds

Nearly half of female footballers surveyed for a new report are considering retiring or leaving the sport early. They cite financial concerns and psychological stress. Anadolu Agency and The Guardian both reported the finding.

According to The Guardian, the report was produced by Fifpro, the global players' union. It is titled "Working Conditions in Women's Football". About 800 players were surveyed.

Key figures

According to The Guardian's account of the report:

• 49% of players surveyed said they were considering leaving football earlier than planned. Of those, more than half cited financial reasons. 46% cited psychological stress.
• 57% said they have struggled with their mental health.
• Average club wages in the women's game have tripled since 2017.
• The average monthly wage was $2,601 (£1,966, by The Guardian's conversion). The median was $1,669 (£1,261). The Guardian states that a small proportion of much higher earners inflates the average.
• Only 56% had an individual employment contract. Only 13% receive a club pension.
• The average contract length rose from 12 months in 2017 to 19 months.
• 76% said they were always paid fully and on time. 5% had experienced payment delays of more than three months.
• 47% said their club did not employ enough staff to meet players' needs.
• Nearly half of respondents play for their national teams. Over half have a university degree.

What each side says

Fifpro says that in many regions "average pay is not significantly higher than national minimum wage levels", according to The Guardian.

Alex Culvin, Fifpro's director of women's football, said progress is uneven. The Guardian quoted her as saying: "The professionalisation of women's football is accelerating in some parts of the world and, as our report highlights, revenues are increasing, however, the progress and benefits are not evenly distributed among players across the world." She added: "Away from the best-resourced clubs, there is a recurring theme of precarity and fragile conditions."

The Guardian also cited former England and Chelsea defender Millie Bright, who ended her career in April. On her retirement, she said: "I've given all I can." According to The Guardian, Bright told Fifpro's media channels that players need an environment where they can seek mental health help without judgment. "You're a little bit embarrassed to say that you're struggling a little bit, so you just hide it and just keep playing," she said.

What the reports do not include

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not describe the survey's methodology. This includes how players were selected, the response rate, the countries covered and the survey dates. They do not specify which regions have pay near minimum wage levels. They do not include responses from clubs, leagues, national federations or FIFA. Vocemundi has not reviewed the Fifpro report directly. Detailed figures rely on The Guardian's account.

Analysis

The findings, as reported, point to a gap between rising headline revenues and the conditions many players describe. The difference between the average and median wage suggests that gains may be concentrated among a smaller group of higher earners. Several scenarios are possible. Clubs, leagues and federations could respond with new standards on contracts, pensions or staffing. Alternatively, they could question the survey's scope once its methodology is examined. Without details on sampling and country coverage, it is unclear how far the results reflect the wider game. Responses from governing bodies would help readers assess the report's conclusions.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.