Nearly half of women footballers surveyed are considering leaving the sport early, according to findings published by global players’ union FIFPRO on October 12. Its worldwide study draws on surveys and interviews with about 800 players and identifies financial pressure and psychological stress as major concerns.
The report found that 49% of respondents were considering an early exit. Among that group, 59% cited financial reasons and 46% psychological stress. These figures describe the surveyed players and their intentions, rather than departures that have already occurred.
FIFPRO said average monthly club pay, adjusted for inflation, has tripled since its 2017 study to $2,601. However, the median is $1,669, showing that wage gains are uneven. The union describes a substantial gap between the growth of better-resourced competitions and conditions elsewhere.
Mental health difficulties affected 57% of those surveyed, according to the union; half of that group received no support from their clubs. In a separate explanation of the report, FIFPRO women’s football director Alex Culvin said players described added workloads and social media abuse without adequate safeguards.
Culvin said resources must support both livelihoods and safe, stable workplaces. She argued that protecting players’ health also benefits performance and the wider game. The report’s concerns therefore extend beyond wages to the conditions in which footballers train and compete.
FIFPRO is calling for enforceable minimum employment standards covering pay, facilities, staffing and health. It also wants mandatory mental health support independent of sporting performance objectives. These are the union’s proposed measures to make careers more sustainable, rather than newly adopted rules.
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