Lionesses Defender Lucy Bronze Opens Up on England Women's Empowering FA Pay Complaint: A Game-Changing Revelation

England Women's decision to make their pay dispute with the FA public has empowered them, according to defender Lucy Bronze. Just four days before their Women's World Cup opener against Haiti, captain Millie Bright released a statement signed by all 24 squad members expressing their disappointment in the ongoing disagreement with the association over bonus payments for the competition.

Sarina Wiegman's players will now receive their tournament prize money directly from FIFA, a change from the previous practice of the payment being given to the FA for distribution. This is a significant amount, surpassing any previous award given by FIFA for a World Cup. However, there is frustration among the players as they believe this amount could have been further topped up by the employers in England, considering the team's recent success and the significant contribution they have made to the development of women's football in the country.

Discussions have been ongoing since late 2022, but despite more than six months passing, they have reached a deadlock.

The Lionesses expressed in their letter that they will temporarily halt discussions to concentrate on the tournament, but they fully intend to resume dialogue once their World Cup campaign concludes. Approximately 24 hours after making this letter public, Bronze shared that it had instilled a sense of increased determination among her and her teammates as they prepare for their World Cup opener.

She stated that the players are experiencing a strong sense of empowerment. According to her, this is the first time the group of players has taken the initiative to convey a message collectively and set their goals. Thus, she believes that the player group has been exceptionally empowered during the previous night, this morning, and the past few weeks. Her comments were shared on Twitter.

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We believed it was crucial to communicate this message because there have been discussions, and we want to demonstrate our dedication to the World Cup; that is our primary objective.

It is extremely disheartening that we are facing these challenges. Once again, this is a topic that we, as a collective of England players, discussed. We are not only taking action for our own benefit, but also to establish a benchmark.

Bronze severely underestimated the significant influence of the Lionesses on women's football in England. Following their triumph in Euro 2022, top-tier women's attendances skyrocketed by almost 200% compared to the previous year.

Alongside the ongoing wage dispute, the England Women's team is reportedly dissatisfied with the FA's constraints on their personal endorsements, which they have been compelled to suspend for the World Cup. Furthermore, they are seeking clarity on the allocation of proceeds from any joint agreements made by the association.

She expressed, "There are always new levels and steps to strive for. This applies to both commercial success and on or off the field achievements. It could be performance-based or being recognized for your accomplishments.

"We are the champions of Europe. We have had a profound impact on the game in England, so we expect everything to align accordingly. If we perform well on the field, it is only fair to anticipate positive outcomes in other areas."

Why are the Lionesses so unhappy with the FA?

News reporter Anton Toloui in Australia reports:

"The FA negotiations with the players have been ongoing since last year. The players express dissatisfaction not only regarding bonus payments but also commercial payments, specifically pertaining to their potential earnings as England players.

"I would like to include a few noteworthy phrases from the powerful statement made by Maheta Molango, the chief executive of PFA. Molango emphasizes that it is a grave error to underestimate the sincere determination of players regarding this matter.

In his concluding remarks, Molango asserts that there will inevitably be repercussions when players continually find themselves having to advocate for equality and advancement on a case-by-case basis. He stresses that it is unnecessary for things to be this way."

This is a matter of concern for the players, as there has been a change in how they are compensated. For the first time, their earnings will come from a FIFA prize pot. The amount they receive has also increased - if they are eliminated in the group stages, they will earn £24,000. However, this amount will progressively increase based on their performance in the tournament, reaching £213,000 if they emerge as the World Cup champions.

However, the players are questioning why none of the money is coming directly from the FA, considering their significant contributions to the game. The FA argues that the prize money has increased four-fold since 2019, which they believe is a fair settlement. Nonetheless, the players are further dissatisfied by their inability to participate in commercial endeavors, which they were forced to halt upon entering camp.

Wiegman exclusive: We dream of World Cup win

In addition to feeling slightly frustrated that the resolution hadn't been reached before the start of the World Cup, Sarina Wiegman, while the players have been in camp, is focused solely on clinching victory in the tournament, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for numerous athletes.

"You never know. We arrived here with a dream, and that's our purpose," Wiegman shares with a confident smile at England's pre-tournament facility on the Sunshine Coast.

"England has a strong track record in past tournaments, and indeed, our aim is to emerge victorious in each match."

When and where is the 2023 Women's World Cup?

Discover more in Anton Toloui's exclusive interview with the England manager, available here.

When and where is the 2023 Women's World Cup?

Set to take place in Australia and New Zealand, this year's tournament marks the inaugural co-hosted Women's World Cup.

The tournament commences on July 20th, culminating in the final on August 20th at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.

The USA, currently the reigning champions, aspire to be the inaugural team to clinch the tournament title thrice consecutively.