Financial, Mental Health Issues Pushing Women Towards Early Retirement
FIFPRO says 49% of surveyed players are considering leaving early as wages rise unevenly and 57% report mental health struggles.
- Nearly half of women's footballers are considering early retirement due to financial pressures and mental health struggles, according to the FIFPRO Global Employment Report surveying over 800 players worldwide.
- While global revenue in women's football is expected to reach over $1bn by 2027, FIFPRO Director of Women's Football Alex Culvin warns that rapid expansion masks "fragile conditions" facing 95% of the industry's workforce.
- Only 56% of players hold employment contracts, while the median monthly salary remains just $1,669, forcing many to work without guaranteed income for the full 12 months.
- Mental health struggles affect 57% of players, yet half receive no club support, prompting FIFPRO to call for enforceable minimum standards covering pay, facilities, staffing and healthcare.
- Maternity regulations introduced by FIFA in 2021 have proven effective; the proportion of players considering leaving for family reasons fell to 19%, down from 47% in 2017.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Women's football is on the rise worldwide, professionalization is being further promoted. Nevertheless, almost 50 percent of professional players think that their career will end prematurely. There are two major complexes that are worrying.
FIFPRO's latest report identifies a change in the reasons why footballers consider the early end of the career. Average monthly wages paid by clubs have tripled since 2017, but only 56% of respondents have a contract of employment and half of those who have faced mental health problems have not received support from clubs.
More than half mention money as a reason, almost every second player thinks of quitting: Despite growing revenues, women's football remains an insecure profession for many. How big is the gap?
Although salaries are rising in women's football, according to a study, every second player is considering ending her career prematurely, and the reasons for this are not only in pay.
Financial pressure and psychological stress make female footballers think about an early end to their career worldwide. This is shown by a Fifpro survey. However, there was a significant improvement in another field.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 53% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
