FIFA setting up £200m fund to support professionalisation of women's football

FIFA are setting up a new £200million fighting fund to help support the professionalisation of women’s football in a major boost for the sport.

Under proposals discussed at a FIFA Council meeting in Jeddah last weekend the world governing body are ready to commit around £25m-a-year to paying clubs who develop professional players.

The payments would be managed by the newly created Professional Women’s Football Task Force, whose remit is to incentivise and reward clubs who develop professional players.

Under the proposed new system all clubs would receive a payment from FIFA every time a female player signs a professional contract whilst under the age of 23, and on the occasion of their first international appearance.

Chelsea and Manchester United would be the biggest beneficiaries in the Women’s Super League based on the number of contracts they have awarded recently.

FIFA’s increased financial commitment to the women’s game follows the successful staging of the biggest ever women’s World Cup in Australia last summer, a tournament which broke even after generating turnover of £450m.

The premise behind the new £200m funding is to encourage the development of young players and to protect the investment of the clubs with the aim of improving the sport’s competitive balance.

The proposals are set to be voted on by FIFA Council next year with a view to being introduced for an initial eight-year period in 2026.