The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) faces direct criticism from the women's national teams of Japan and Australia over prize money inequality. In a joint statement released through the global players' union FIFPRO, the teams accused the AFC of "ignoring" previous requests and challenged the governing body to establish equal pay with the men's tournament.
The Women's Asian Cup final on March 21 in Sydney attracted over 74,000 spectators—a record crowd for the competition—where Japan defeated hosts Australia 1-0. However, the prize fund for the women's tournament was reported at $1.8 million, unchanged from 2022, compared to $14.8 million for the men's equivalent. This disparity persists despite the event's commercial success.
A FIFPRO report in February indicated the Women's Asian Cup could generate up to $82.4 million in revenue. The tournament drew a record 350,000 attendees over three weeks. The statement from Japan and Australia emphasized: "Despite the success of this tournament, it remains the lowest-paying continental tournament in the world. Equal prize money would be transformational for all players and football communities across Asia, helping to raise standards at all levels."
The tournament unfolded against a backdrop of significant challenges. Seven members of the Iran squad sought asylum in Australia after being labeled "traitors" at home for refusing to sing the national anthem. India's players dealt with ill-fitting kits, while South Korea's team threatened to boycott over "poor" treatment compared to their male counterparts. The statement stressed that such issues require partnership between the AFC and players to address effectively.
In a surprising post-tournament development, Japan dismissed coach Nils Nielsen just 12 days after he led them to Asian Cup glory. The Japan Football Association (JFA) cited his "lax" approach and "lack of passion" as reasons for the termination. JFA president Tsuneyasu Miyamoto stated the decision considered "various factors" for future international success. Women's team director Norio Sasaki claimed Japan could not win the 2027 World Cup under Nielsen's leadership.
Japan is scheduled to play three away friendlies against the United States in April, with Michihisa Kano serving as interim coach. Sasaki suggested the next permanent coach would likely be Japanese. Nielsen, formerly coach of Denmark and Switzerland's women's teams and technical director at Manchester City Women, leaves amid ongoing debates over investment and equality in women's football.
Source: www.aljazeera.com