NEW ZEALAND’S FOOTBALL governing body has announced a deal to give the national women’s team the same pay and conditions as the men’s side, becoming one of the world’s first countries to do so.
Providing equality between the male All Whites and female Football Ferns was “a landmark moment for football in this country,” New Zealand Football said.
“Today’s announcement signifies that we as an organisation are committed to parity for the men’s and women’s game and to continuing the growth in all areas of our sport,” chief executive Andy Martin said.
The deal is unlikely to bring vast sums to female players as the New Zealand men’s side, ranked 133rd in the world, earn only a fraction of their high-profile international counterparts. But Football Ferns striker Sarah Gregorius said it still represented an important principle that recognised the effort women put into their sport.
“It’s such an awesome line that we’ve now drawn in the sand,” she told Radio New Zealand.
“No matter who you are, whatever gender, when you pull on a New Zealand football shirt you’re entitled to the same treatment and respect no matter what.”
In practical terms, the New Zealand deal means women will receive the same match payments, equal fees on image rights and a similar proportion of tournament prize money.
They will also enjoy the same travel arrangements, meaning women will no longer have to fly economy to tournaments while male players enjoy business class.
The move comes after Norway’s football association signed an agreement last year giving its men’s and women’s teams pay parity. The US Women’s National Team and Australia both negotiated notable pay increases in recent years.
Australia’s Seven Rugby teams in January struck a deal that offers its male and female teams equal pay until 2020.
New Zealand Rugby announced earlier this year that the Black Ferns, the five-time women’s world champions, would be offered professional contracts for the first time.
That’s the kind of progressive thinking and action that a lot of countries could learn from. It’d be great in Ireland if the FAI could reach such parity.
@Jim Demps: it’s pc nonsense for the sake of pc nonsense. Even if the NZ men’s team isn’t the most commercially successful team in the world, I’m pretty sure there would still be a sizable disparity in what it earns v the women’s team. Equal travel arrangements, facilities and all the logistical side is proper, but equal pay is just pandering.
@Jim Demps: Not at all. Total BS. Completely agree with people should get paid the same regardless gender or anything as long as they do the same job/make the same amount of money for their companies/associations. This is idiotic and undermines the whole equal pay movement. Equal pay for people who add the same amount of value. Not just for PR. In saying that the Irish women’s teams are treated awfully.
@William Boland: aren’t the new Zealand women’s team more successful than their male counterparts? Maybe they contribute enough to make a case for parity.
Imagine the women in England getting the same amount as the men , unless the men take a pay cut the club’s would be broke in a month.
@William Boland: “it’s pc nonsense for the sake of pc nonsense.”
What ?
That arguing against progress for the sake of arguing.
Bus drivers on less commercial routes get paid the same as those on commercial routes. Males get paid the same as females. You do a job and get paid the going rate. What’s your issue with that?
Denmark have already done this too.
@Adrian Costigan: can’t really compare bus drivers to professional athletes. Television revenue, gates revenue and advertising money dictate the differences in pay for male and female sport stars. Not saying it fair but that’s how it works. Arsenal’s women’s football are one of the biggest teams in women’s football but yet they don’t generate enough money to cover their own wages. Their wages are paid from d income from the men’s team. Wouldn’t and couldn’t make sense to pay them all equally.
@Adrian Costigan: that is just a ridiculous argument. Buses are a necessary commodity, usually funded or subsidised by public finances. Soccer is a luxury, where the ultimate goal is not only to compete, but to usually make money, or at least pay for itself.
@Hardly Normal: nothing to do with the clubs. The article is about countries treating their athletes and representatives equally.
@Jim Demps: chump change for the men in the international game , the English donate their appearance fees it’s so small in comparison to what they get from the clubs , maybe they should just give it to the women. Maybe the club’s should take a look at it themselves and pay a bit more! They have to do something to earn it though , be it success on the pitch or commercially..
@Hardly Normal: their success is fairly relative, they have been to 4 world cups, but have never gone beyond the group stage.
See that No.1 ……
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She’s a keeper
Why not have the same “basic” pay, terms and conditions for all. Then, an incremental payment based on revenue generated.
As tennis has proven getting the same pay is not equal pay.
Number 1&17 for the nz ladies team.twins??
Niceeeee
Stupid
I’d love for my daughters to grow up in a world that treats them fairly. However, considering some of these comments and the number of “likes” that one in particular has received, I don’t think that’s likely to happen
@Stephen Keane: btw, whether it’s a token gesture or not, fair play to the NZ FA
@Stephen Keane: I have a son and a daughter, and I am teaching them that nothing should ever just be handed to you. If it’s about fairness, why shouldn’t hockey players representing their country earn as much as soccer players. They put in as much work, yet you never hear this argument.