Ballon d'Or winner Alexia Putellas urges FIFA action after Women's World Cup disputes - ‘I lost some of my romanticism’
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Published 21/08/2023 at 08:17 GMT
Alexia Putellas appears exhausted by the ongoing fight for parity within the game and is urging FIFA to urgent action. Spain have been marred by off-the-pitch issues concerning their head coach Jorge Vilda, while several nations have had pay disputes with their country's football governing bodies. It all adds to the pressure placed on FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino has come under fire.
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Alexia Putellas says that the ongoing disputes within women’s football have taken their toll on the players and is urging FIFA to act.
Spain won their first Women’s World Cup title with victory over England on Sunday, but this was marred by the backdrop of tension between the players and head coach Jorge Vilda.
The situation surrounding Vilda saw reports surfacing last year that 15 players asked not to play for their country with him at the helm.
This came in the aftermath of La Roja’s exit from last summer’s European Championships, creating the division between players and the country's football governing body.
England have also been in dispute with the FA over payments from the tournament, and the trend is worrying the two-time Ballon d’Or winner.
In an interview with Marca, she said: "It annoys me because it's not just one country. It's very repetitive and FIFA have to take note.
"There are many countries who have spent time with disputes. That saps your energy when the player only wants to focus on training, looking after themselves, prepare properly and leave everything on the pitch.
"All the energy you spend on arguing, in having your say, on strategic plans… we're players! I've lost some of my romanticism, but not on the pitch."
The issue of prize money from the tournament has also caused plenty of controversy, with co-hosts Australia highlighting the disparity between themselves and their male counterparts.
Jamaica, Nigeria and South Africa have also been dealing with funding issues, with the latter two nations complaining about a limited amount of investment from their national associations.
Meanwhile, Jamaica had to gain independent funding themselves after appearing in their first Women’s World Cup finals.
Canada's players also reluctantly reached an interim compensation deal with their governing body last month, and issued a rather damning statement asking to "choose between compensation and the funding required to hold necessary training camps".
All of the above will add to the scrutiny under FIFA and their president Gianni Infantino, who came under stinging criticism for his comments telling women footballers to “just push the doors” and that they have the “power to convince us men".
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