(Reuters) – Professional women’s soccer players have seen wages cut or suspended amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 47% of the nations surveyed by the global players’ union FIFPRO.
FIFPRO collected data from national player unions in 62 different countries from July through October.
The report here, released on Wednesday, noted that 69% of women said that communication from clubs and leagues about their personal health and wellbeing had been poor or very poor and 84% reported they received no mental health support during the outbreak.
In April, FIFPRO released a report warning that many female footballers are at risk of losing their livelihoods due to the global soccer shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The results of this survey underline the extent to which women footballers are routinely overlooked in many parts of the world,” Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO general secretary, said.
Amanda Vandervort, FIFPRO chief women’s football officer, added: “Like most industries, women’s football is being severely affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Reporting by Hardik Vyas in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Davis