The debate on equal pay between men's and women's soccer has been hot in the United States. The US women's national team, which won the World Cup gold just over a month ago, sued the American Football Association in March as they believe their wages and conditions must be considered discrimination. They have always been paid poorly despite being more successful than the national team masters.

Former center-backs star Frank de Boer, now coach of the MLS team Atlanta United, after previously coaching teams such as Ajax and Crystal Palace, joins the discussion.

"For me, the whole discussion is a joke"

In an interview with The Guardian, the Dutchman assumes that the debate is silly.

- For me, the whole discussion is a joke. It is the same as in tennis. If there are 500 million watching the World Cup finals and 100 million watching the World Cup finals, there is a difference. They should have the salary they deserve, no less.

- If women's soccer had been as popular as men's soccer, they would have been paid just as much, since income and advertising go hand in hand. But it's not as popular, so why should they earn as much? I think it's ridiculous. I don't get it.

De Boer believes that there is a difference between football and civilian careers.

- If a woman works as a manager at a bank, or similar, then you should earn as much as a man when the work is not physical, except in the head, when you do the same job as a man. I think that way of thinking has come into the sports world, but I think it's a difference.