Marta to be paid same as Neymar; Brazil FA president: "There will be no more gender difference in remuneration between men and women."
Thursday 3 September 2020 14:02, UK
Brazil have announced they will become one of the few nations to pay their women's and men's football teams equally.
Brazil's female players such as Marta will be paid the same as Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Roberto Firmino.
"The CBF has equalled the prize money and allowances between men's and women's football, which means the women players will earn the same as the men," said the federation's president Rogerio Caboclo.
Brazil join Australia, Norway and New Zealand among the nations who pay their men and women the same amount.
It will be applied to the teams participating in the Olympics next year as well as the next World Cup tournaments.
Caboclo said: "It will be proportionally the same as what Fifa proposes for women, that is to say, there will be no more gender difference in remuneration between men and women."
Last year, current women's world champions the United States sued their federation, alleging discrimination over pay and conditions. The team appealed earlier this year after a judge dismissed their case.
The World Cup-winning team's long-running feud with US Soccer has been a public and bitter battle and the players had been seeking $66m (£53m) in damages under the Equal Pay Act.
An influx in big-name transfers will make the Women's Super League the best in the world, according to the FA's head of professional football Kelly Simmons.
WSL clubs have been active in the transfer market this summer, attracting World Cup winners and European stars to England's top division.
Simmons insists additions like Manchester City's Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis, along with Chelsea signing Pernille Harder, will be good for clubs and fans alike.
"It's going to be fantastic to see top English players play alongside the likes of Rose Lavelle, one of the best players in the world", Simmons told Sky Sports News.
"It's a real statement for where the Women's Super League is, it's regarded as one of the best if not the best league in the world. That is our ambition."
Hope Powell, however, has warned that the WSL must remain competitive as more and more high-profile players move over to England's top tier.
The WSL has been dominated by the 'big three' of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, who have all made big-name signings this summer - but they have not been the only teams - and Brighton boss Powell feels it is important the league retains its competitive edge.
"We're under no illusions it's going to be tough, especially with some of the players coming into the WSL," she told Sky Sports News. "It's going to be hard work.
"We want to be as competitive as we can be, we want to compete with the top teams in the league. We go out and try to win, be able to compete.
"The league is what it is. We wanted it to be professional, we wanted it to be the best in the world and attract talent. It's doing a lot of the things we wanted it to do. The challenge now is to keep that competitive edge going."
