Women’s Football: Talent Pathways and Player Wellbeing

Opened the debate

Julie Elliott is concerned about the lack of equal access to football for girls at school level, with only 67% of girls having access. She highlights that not all children are offered a minimum of two hours of physical education per week and calls for long-term funding settlements for schools to ensure PE accessibility. She also mentions significant inequalities in investment between men's and women's academies, pointing out the disparity of £88 million versus £3.25 million annually. Additionally, she raises concerns about player wellbeing, including job security, safeguarding issues, and the impact of new image rights deals on players' mental health and body image.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Gray. I thank the hon. Member for Sunderland Central (Julie Elliott) for securing time for this important debate. I have made it my personal commitment that inclusion in sport will be a high priority for me. That will, of course, include access to all sports for women and girls, not least because last summer we witnessed major successes in women's sport, as our own Lionesses beat the German team at Wembley to lift the UEFA championship trophy. The minister highlighted several initiatives aimed at promoting women's football, including Game On, Shooting Stars, and Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships. He mentioned that over 3,200 primary schools are participating in the Shooting Stars programme and noted an investment of over £300 million between 2021 and 2025 to improve grassroots facilities across the UK. The minister emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion in women's sport. According to the Professional Footballers' Association, only 9.7% of footballers in the elite women's game are from diverse ethnic backgrounds compared with 43% of male players in the premier league. The FA is launching a revised women and girls player pathway focused on providing a wide and diverse pool of players ready for senior domestic and international football. The minister also addressed issues related to player welfare, noting that while there has been progress such as equal match fees between men's and women's teams since January 2020, challenges remain in terms of prize money disparity. UEFA doubled the women's Euro prize money last year but it is still a fraction of what the men receive. Regarding medical care for players, Beth Mead has called for more research into women's anterior cruciate ligament injuries due to the high incidence among female footballers compared with male counterparts. The minister acknowledged the need for further investigation and better treatment options. The minister welcomed the ongoing review of the future of women's football chaired by Karen Carney, which will look at how to deliver bold and sustainable growth of the women's game at elite and grassroots levels. He confirmed that he would follow up on any recommendations made based on evidence from current and former players. In conclusion, the minister reiterated the government's commitment to ensuring all aspects of women's sport continue to flourish through collaboration with relevant organizations and stakeholders.