On March 8, 28 players of the American football team filed suit against their Federation for discrimination in a court in Los Angeles to demand equal pay. In Spain, nearly 200 professional female footballers have decided to follow suit.
To denounce the blocking of negotiations on their salaries, they voted Tuesday, October 22 to more than 93% in favor of an indefinite strike whose date has not yet been set, announced the Association of Spanish footballers (AFE) in a statement.
The call to strike launched by the players
Las futbolistas of Primera División anuncian convocatoria of huelga.
📝👉🏻 https://t.co/DZ6RpUXaKY
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"They are full-time footballers"
These players who play in first division teams such as FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid or Sevilla FC have been negotiating with clubs for more than a year. They ask to be treated like their male counterparts and paid at least 12,000 euros a year, when the clubs offer them part-time contracts paid at least 8,000 euros a year.
"What the players need is a work contract that guarantees their rights.They are full-time footballers," said in the statement the president of AFE, David Aganzo.
The former player of the Spanish team and FC Barcelona Leire Landa supports the movement
Ei chicas, that no, no que quejéis ... contentas podriais estar de os dejan jugar a fútbol! At the mierda !!!!! Lo que hay que leer! Después de tantos años de lucha, es el momento! TO THE HUELGA POR UNOS DERECHOS LABORALES, CLARO THAT SÍ !!! 💪💪 #ConvenioFemeninoYa
Leire Landa (@ Leire23) October 23, 2019"We are 100% football players, 24 hours a day," added Ainhoa Tirapu of Athletic Bilbao, quoted in the statement. "It's not just about money, it's going much further, we hope to reach an agreement but we had to take drastic action because it's time for women's football," she continues. "We are not only fighting for ourselves but also for future generations."
As elsewhere in the world, women's football is growing in Spain. The players of FC Barcelona have qualified last season for the final of the Champions League, which they lost to Olympique Lyonnais. In March, the Spanish Football Federation (FREF) announced the creation of a new professional women's championship, qualifying for European competitions.
"We are fighting for a better future," says Spanish player Alicia Fuentes
The unidad de las jugadoras is lo más important y esta imagen habla solo solo luchamos por lo mínimo para un futuro mejor💪💪 # conveniofemeninoya # yosolollevo25años pic.twitter.com/4pB4qYrdeg
Alicia Fuentes (@ Alicia10Fuentes) October 22, 2019With AFP