The UK government has thrown its support behind the recommendations made in former England midfielder Karen Carney’s study into domestic women’s football, highlighting the need to “collectively seize the moment and achieve lasting commercial success”.
After the independent review, titled “Raising the bar: reframing opportunities in women’s football”, was commissioned in September 2022 and published in July, the government published its official response, in which it agreed that the ten strategic recommendations should be taken into account. acted.
In its efforts to move things forward, it involves convening a Football Association (FA) “implementation group”, NewCo – the new independent body tasked with running the Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship from 2024/25 – and other stakeholders, who will meet in March and July next year.
The study was commissioned shortly after England won the Women’s Euros on home soil, and the Lionesses went on to finish runners-up at this year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “I would like to thank Karen for her detailed review which has provided a clear plan for the future of women’s football, from grassroots to elite level.
“We must collectively rise to the occasion and deliver sustained commercial success for the women’s game, and fully support the FA and NewCo to advance the full professionalization of the game.”
Carney said: “I am encouraged that the Government is giving its full support to my review and renewing its commitment to growing women’s football in the UK and realizing its potential to become a world-class sport. The real work begins now.
Creating a fully professional environment at the top two levels is one of the key recommendations of the Carney report.
As part of its support in this area, the Government says it supports the introduction of a “minimum wage” in the WSL from 2025/26 and in the Championship once revenues allow, the gradual introduction of increased contact time as part of the licensing criteria for seconds. multi-level clubs, formal union representation at both levels and a centrally funded unit focused on research into issues affecting female players.
Regarding the review’s call in this recommendation for the provision of “gold standard physical and mental health benefits”, the Government said it believed the FA could have gone further in terms of changes to medical licensing criteria this season, and that he was “disappointed that the FA had not mandated clubs to recruit sport and exercise psychologists”.
He added that he had “held discussions with the FA and expressed our expectation that they would fully consider the recommendation regarding the increase in medical licenses for the 2024/25 season”.
The review called for a dedicated broadcast slot, and the government’s response to this included its view that “revoking section 48 (Saturday 3pm ban) for women’s football only is a viable option “.
The response also highlighted the importance of the FA and Newco appointing a new strategic partner “committed to fully investing in building a sustainable talent pathway for girls”.
On diversity in the women’s game, he said he “fully supports the sector in its efforts to become more inclusive” and welcomed the recent news that the Women’s FA Cup prize fund has doubled for 2023 /24 to reach 6 million pounds sterling (UK). $7.6 million).
He also said he would continue to promote equal access for girls and increase funding transparency following his March announcement of a £600 million (US$760 million) package to boost school sport, and highlighted last week’s announcement of a new British pound scheme. A 30 million ($37.9 million) fund to provide artificial pitches at grassroots venues designed to prioritize women’s and women’s teams.
In addition to the implementation group, the government will also establish a Women’s Sports Council in the new year with the aim of accelerating growth beyond women’s football.
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