Lionesses bonus row could drag on until after World Cup

The FA and PFA are showing no signs of a breakthrough in negotiations over additional payments to Sarina Wiegman’s England players

The England players’ situation over World Cup bonuses may not be resolved until after the tournament (The FA via Getty Images)

England’s players could have to wait until after the Women’s World Cup for the stand-off over bonuses to be resolved, as there is still no sign of a breakthrough in negotiations between the Football Association (FA) and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), who are representing manager Sarina Wiegman’s group.

The tournament begins on 20 July and the dispute centres on the squad’s argument that the governing body should already have in place an agreed performance-based bonus structure that is independent of the Fifa prize money, in the same way that both Australia and the USA teams do.

The governing bodies of those countries have agreed deals in excess of the 60 per cent of prize money guaranteed by Fifa, with both heavily performance-related. As it is, the only performance-based payment England are assured is from Fifa.

Fifa’s new stipulations mean that every player at the World Cup will be guaranteed at least $30,000 (£23,000), with that drastically increasing the further teams go. The team that lifts the trophy will be guaranteed $270,000 (£206,000) per squad member.

A major point of principle for the England players is also that the Euro 2022 victory offered the opportunity to immediately clarify all this but that didn’t really happen. It is only in the last 10 days that a concrete offer has been put on the table. This has made the players less willing to just accept agreement after the World Cup, and has fostered a frustration now that they are already in Australia.

The FA were part of a group of federations that worked with Fifa to stipulate a hard percentage that should go directly to players, and The Independent understands that figure will of course be honoured. The players’ representatives have also been told, however, that it might be better for all parties to discuss bonuses after the World Cup as there could naturally be a huge difference in “commercial uplift” depending on whether the team, for example, reach the quarter-finals or win the tournament.

The arguments put forward by the PFA on the players’ behalf, however, are that this is lacking in transparency and that it would be better for all concerned if it would be settled beforehand. As numerous involved sources have also insisted, it is a situation that would simply “never happen” in the men’s game.

“Can you imagine telling them we’ll discuss it when we’re back,” one said.

The players also feel that their demands are in keeping with the “world-leading” side the Lionesses are supposed to now be, as reflected by the comparisons with Australia and USA.

The FA, whose discussions are handled by the commercial team, are pointing to the different dynamics of this competition – especially as it is the first 32-squad World Cup in the women’s game. There is also the issue that Fifa’s 60 per cent stipulation means the prize money from the governing body does not fully cover the travel costs for a hugely expensive tournament, in the manner that customarily happens with such funds. While the FA will of course cover all of that, it is one additional factor complicating discussions over the prospective budget for this World Cup and commercial income.

Lucy Bronze has spoken out in frustration over the bonuses situation (PA Wire)

The governing body have attempted to assure the players that they will get fair reward for their contributions, but the PFA naturally want clarity now, especially as commercial income for the team has “skyrocketed” in the last year. The involved parties have been approached for comment although there is a will from all sides that it doesn’t devolve into a briefing war or disrupt a tournament that could yet bring a historic victory for the squad.

Lucy Bronze this week expressed irritation that the situation had not yet been solved.

“It is frustrating but I think that’s the way the women’s game has predominantly been. As a team we’ve always been pushing in the background, it’s only been recently that it’s been made more public and people are aware of it, but it’s something we’ve always had to do as players.”