Raquel Sampaio, founder of Teammate Football Management, stresses, however, that, similarly to what already happens in the main European leagues, “the professionalization of the sport in Portugal has to be a reality in the short term”. Marítimo, from the BPI League, and Ovarense, from the II Division, stress that this is a long process, which could take “years” to be implemented.
The Union of Professional Football Players (SJPF) finalized the wording of the first Collective Bargaining Agreement (an instrument of collective labor regulation entered into between employers and, mainly, union associations, which regulate the working conditions of workers from such entities) for the women’s football and presented, this Thursday, the 9th, the proposal to the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), with the intention of starting to have a minimum salary equalization between men and women in Portuguese football.
According to the document, the organization led by Joaquim Evangelista intends that, starting next season, the professional players of Liga BPI start earning at least 2280 euros per month, which is equivalent to three minimum wages, with the FPF welcomes the existence of a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Faced with all this, O JOGO decided to listen to three parties involved in the reality of national women’s football to understand to what extent this desire is achievable.
Raquel Sampaio, former football player and founder of Teammate Football Management – an agency company exclusively dedicated to women’s football – argues that, under current conditions, the proposal presented is impossible to execute, but, on the other hand, stresses the high relevance of the theme, which must be discussed by “all competent authorities”.
“As is already happening in other European leagues, the professionalization of women’s football in Portugal has to be a reality in the short term. For that to happen, we have to start somewhere. by the SJPF to the FPF, is extremely ambitious for our reality. We would be talking about an investment that amounts, in salaries alone, to values between 650 and 800 thousand euros [plantéis compostos por 20-25 jogadoras]. These days, this is probably the reality of one or two clubs out of the 12 that compete in Liga BPI. However, this measure is, without any doubt, essential and a kick-off in the labor protection of women in football and, in my opinion, all the competent entities – FPF, SJPF, clubs and the Government – should sit “at the table”. for discussion. For, immediately, something like this to be possible and viable, it is strictly necessary that the clubs receive monetary aid to professionalize their female structures, especially in infrastructure and human resources”, said Raquel.
Andreia Correia, coordinator of women’s football at Marítimo, part of Liga BPI, revealed that the club was notified, “by email”, of this intention, welcoming this “first step towards achieving gender equality” in football. “It is beneficial for all parties, however, there is still a long way to go. This proposal is a start, but I believe it will be a process that will last for years”, evaluated the leader.
Finally, Carlos Santos, sports director of Ovarense, a team that militates in the second echelon, followed the same speech. “I think that, immediately, it is totally unfeasible. We are talking about structures that are not even professionals. We have difficulties in giving allowances, let alone paying such high wages. I think that this is a natural path, which we will all have to follow , but there will have to be much more help and commitment from everyone. We are still far away”, he noted.
