The Football Association have been told to pay Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman the same wage as Gareth Southgate.
After successfully winning the Euro last summer, the Lionesses are one step away from lifting the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
Wiegman’s side will take on Spain in Sunday’s final as they look to clinch back-to-back major trophies.
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On the back of their success last summer, the popularity of women’s football has grown massively.
For example, 2.4 million more women and girls in England participated in football during the 22/23 campaign than the season before.
There has also been a 16% increase in female youth teas from May 2022 to May 2023.
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Ahead of the showpiece final in Australia, there have been calls for Wiegman to be paid the same as England men’s boss Southgate.
Southgate is currently on a reported yearly salary of £5 million, whilst Wiegman is only taking home £400,000.
In a recent interview, the FA’s chief executive Mark Bullingham spoke about Wiegman, he said: “She can have whatever she wants, she’s incredible.”
The Guardian journalist Suzanne Wrack has urged the FA to ‘put its money where its mouth is’.
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She wrote: “Wiegman can’t quite have whatever she wants, though. Pay equity with the England men’s manager, Gareth Southgate, is not on the cards anytime soon, despite her superior record and the FA’s desire to paint the sides as of equal value.
“Southgate is reportedly paid £5m a year, a significant uplift on Wiegman’s supposed £400,000 salary.”
Wrack added: “Bullingham and the FA talk a good talk about valuing the roles equally, so why won’t the governing body put its money where its mouth is? Wiegman has won the Euros with England and will lead them into Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain. She guided the Netherlands to victory at the Euros in 2017 before taking them to the World Cup final in 2019.
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“Southgate led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-final in Russia, the quarter-finals of Qatar 2022 and the Euro 2020 final.”
Featured Image Credit: GettyTopics: Sarina Wiegman, England, Gareth Southgate, FA, Womens Football, Womens World Cup