'Frustrating' - Lucy Bronze reveals Lionesses squad are unhappy about FA refusing to commit to World Cup bonuses as negotiations continue

Lucy Bronze is «frustrated» a deal over performance-related bonuses for the Lionesses at this summer’s Women’s World Cup has not yet been agreed.

WHAT HAPPENED? A FIFA rule change for the Women's World Cup will see players earn a set bonus according to performance, meaning every player from the country that wins the trophy will receive $270,000 (£210,000), and all those eliminated at the group stage will receive $30,000 (£23,000). 

The Football Association (FA) and the Lionesses have been in discussions over separate performance-related bonuses for the squad at this summer’s Women’s World Cup, but The Telegraph states that as of yet, no agreement has been reached. The report adds the Professional Footballers’ Association are continuing to provide the Lionesses players with support in those talks and it is hoped a deal can be finalised with the FA.

WHAT THEY SAID: Bronze told Sky Sports ahead of the 32-team tournament, which begins on July 20: "It is frustrating but I think that’s the way the women’s game has predominantly been. As a team we’ve always been pushing in the background, it’s only been recently that it’s been made more public and people are aware of it, but it’s something we’ve always had to do as players.

"Someone like [former England captain] Steph Houghton previously is someone who did a lot of work behind the scenes that probably wasn’t reported on and people didn’t know as much about. I think we’re in a similar situation now, and I think the point of the players and everyone involved in women’s football is about taking it to the next level and pushing the ceiling, not wanting to have a ceiling put on our game, and making sure we leave the game in a better place than what we found it."

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