At the moment, according to the current regulations, participation is only possible if the club also has a men’s department. But dhe 34 professional football organizations are unanimous: in the future, paid football organizations “may only participate in professional women’s football”. And a spokesperson for the KNVB calls this a “historic decision”.
Professionalization of women’s football
According to the KNVB, this decision is in line with “the further development and professionalization of women’s football”. Hera is committed to the formation of the first Dutch professional club that is entirely focused on women. The club could then become the first professional football organization to qualify for this.
“It is of course strange that 33 men and one woman will vote on the future of a women’s professional club,” said co-founder of Hera and sports journalist Barbara Barend just yesterday to AT5. But despite that, she already trusted for a good outcome.
Start immediately
“We can start straight away in the Premier League,” Barend continued. “We don’t have to move up and we can build on all their knowledge, skills and efforts.” According to the KNVB, this decision can be made definitively in June next year, so that the change “can take effect from season 25/26”.