Global inequality in football continues to cast a shadow over the game, with women across every continent reporting discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment.
From grassroots clubs to the highest professional levels, the challenges are consistent: lack of recognition, barriers to progression, and a culture that too often dismisses women’s voices. A new Women in Football study has revealed that almost 80 per cent of women working in the UK game experienced discrimination in the past year, findings that mirror struggles faced worldwide. Despite milestones such as record-breaking attendances at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and equal pay victories in the United States, systemic issues remain entrenched, demanding urgent global attention.
Almost 80 per cent of women working in football report having faced discrimination within the past year, according to a new industry-wide survey by Women in Football.
The survey, which collected responses from 759 women across roles in the sport, reveals a stark reality. Seventy-eight per cent said they had experienced discrimination in their workplace over the previous 12 months. Among those incidents, 63.5 per cent involved sexist jokes, remarks, or banter, and more than 56 per cent disclosed that no formal action was taken in response to their reports of gender-based discrimination.
Yvonne Harrison, Chief Executive of Women in Football, described the findings as “bleak,” emphasising that the figures reflect real human lives and not just abstract statistics. She observed that many women do not report incidents, and a third admitted this was due to a lack of confidence in existing grievance systems or fear of retaliation.
The survey also highlights long-standing frustrations in the industry: 86 per cent of women believe they must work harder than men to receive equal recognition, and when men were surveyed, 69 per cent agreed with that perception.
Harrison urged that real change must go beyond box-ticking. “We cannot keep relying on the resilience of women. We need women to be supported, valued, and recognised,” she said. She argued that the core issues are cultural and structural, not simply procedural, and that creating psychologically safe environments is essential.
The Global Picture
While this study focuses on the UK, its findings resonate with the experiences of women in football worldwide. From grassroots to the professional game, female players, coaches, referees, and administrators in countries such as Spain, the United States, Nigeria, and Australia have spoken out in recent years about systemic sexism, unequal pay, harassment, and lack of representation at leadership levels.
FIFA itself has faced criticism for its failures in safeguarding and the slow pace of progress in addressing gender inequality, despite the record growth in the women’s game and landmark events like the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Many experts warn that unless governing bodies take stronger, coordinated action, the rapid expansion of women’s football and health and fitness will continue to be undermined by entrenched bias.
Harrison emphasised that football’s global reach presents both a responsibility and an opportunity. “These are not questions of cost. It is a question of culture and a commitment to ensuring psychological safety,” she said, arguing that international collaboration and accountability are vital if the sport is to live up to its claim of being “the global game” for everyone.
Global Inequality
Global inequality in football continues to cast a shadow over the game, with women across every continent reporting discrimination, harassment, and unequal treatment. From grassroots clubs to the highest professional levels, the challenges are consistent: lack of recognition, barriers to progression, and a culture that too often dismisses women’s voices. A new Women in Football study has revealed that almost 80 per cent of women working in the UK game experienced discrimination in the past year, findings that mirror struggles faced worldwide. Despite milestones such as record-breaking attendances at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and equal pay victories in the United States, systemic issues remain entrenched, demanding urgent global attention.
Zoe Ball of Football24-7.org emphasised the wider significance of the report, saying: “This is not just a UK problem, it’s a global crisis in football culture. If the sport truly wants to call itself the world’s game, it has to be inclusive, respectful, and safe for everyone, no matter their gender.”
In the UK, the Women’s Super League (WSL) has become a flagship for the growth of the women’s game, with powerhouse clubs such as Chelsea futbol24 Women, Arsenal Women, Manchester United futbol24 Women, and Manchester City Women drawing record-breaking crowds and global attention. Despite these successes on the pitch and in the stands, many women working behind the scenes at these clubs still encounter the same barriers identified in the Women in Football study, ranging from unequal opportunities in leadership roles to subtle forms of everyday discrimination that undermine progress.
