The Football Association has announced a “landmark” cash injection for the Women’s FA Cup that will see the prize money increase to £3m from the 2022-23 season.
Leading union GMB highlighted the pay disparity in the competition for men and women, with the total prize pot for the Women’s FA Cup sitting at £309,000 to be shared by 300 teams.
And the Women’s FA Cup’s prize fund was dwarfed by the FA Cup for the men, with a whopping £15.9m to be shared by 735 teams.
The FA in January revealed it would be planning a “significant increase” in the money pumped into the Women’s FA Cup amid criticism over pay discrepancy.
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According to The Guardian, the FA was prepared to introduce a historic almost tenfold increase that would see prize money rise above £2.5m.
Now, the FA confirmed a £3m prize fund will be in place from the 2022-23 season and the money will be distributed across each round of the Women’s FA Cup.
The FA on Monday said that it will now begin work on “how that money is divided and allocated” and aims for every team in the Women’s FA Cup to benefit from it.
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According to the FA’s official website, the increase in money will help the FA tackle the “disproportionate” amount of prize fund which was previously available in the early rounds of the competition.
FA director of women’s football Sue Campbell said in a statement: “I’m delighted to be able to make this announcement of increased funding for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup because it’s going to benefit so many clubs across the women’s football pyramid.
“The FA Cup, whether men’s or women’s, is the biggest and best domestic cup competition in the world, and this increased investment highlights that we want clubs competing in it to be rewarded, while also highlighting our ongoing commitment to the women’s game.
“Women’s football continues to be in a growth phase and we are always looking to make improvements and investment to drive it forward and break new boundaries. This is certainly one of the most pleasing during my time with the organisation, because I know it means so much to so many.”
Adnan Riaz