If the Red Flames will play the Euro this summer and the Belgian Union has nearly 50,000 affiliated footballers, the situation of Belgian clubs remains more delicate. Anderlecht, champion for the past 4 years, has decided a few weeks ago cut in the budget of “RSCA Women”, its ladies’ team. On this International Women’s Rights Day, a little spotlight on women’s club football in our country.
The situation may seem paradoxical: on the tails, a number of licensees approaching 47,000 female footballers, i.e. an increase of more than 20% in 3 years according to figures from the Belgian Union, with in particular the base of the pyramid which is is gradually expanding (more and more young players, between 8 and 12 years old). On the face side, top clubs are struggling, like Anderlecht, the defending champion where several Red Flames play, which will reduce the budget of its women’s section.
Beyond the disastrous effects of the Covid crisis on budgets, the lack of income generated by the women’s competition, the Super League, is also pushing clubs to tighten their belts. With only one televised match per day, it is still difficult to attract sponsors. As often in the world of women’s sport, Belgian women’s football is a snake biting its tail: the sponsors would like more visibility, but for more visibility and a better level, more money is needed. And therefore in particular more sponsors… However, certain Super League audiences seem to have surprised the broadcaster himself (Eleven Sports), like the Bruges-Standard match for example, which attracted more than 90,000 viewers. Encouraging figures for a constantly evolving competition.
