When Olaf Scholz entered the new DFB campus, the German soccer players were shining large above him – on the LED wall in the foyer. Only nine days after the lost European Championship final in Wembley with his consoling cabin speech, the Federal Chancellor visited the association’s headquarters in Frankfurt. With his push for “equal pay”, i.e. equal pay for the women’s and men’s national teams, the SPD politician took a step forward on Tuesday.
Association President Bernd Neuendorf announced a debate in the German Football Association on the harmonization of premiums. “I am at least willing to talk to the representatives of the senior national teams in our committees about whether our bonus system, which has grown over decades, is still up to date (…) and whether it can also be adjusted if necessary.”Neuendorf said after the round of talks with Scholz, DFB Managing Director Oliver Bierhoff and Vice President Celia Sasic.
“Scholz: “It’s something political” – €60,000 versus €400,000
“I think it’s something political, so it makes sense to discuss equal bonuses.”, said Scholz after the approximately one-hour tour and discussion with the association officials. The Chancellor got involved in the discussion during the women’s European Championship in England and called for the same prize money for men and women in the national teams via Twitter: “It’s 2022. Women and men should be paid equally.”
The DFB women each received EUR 30,000 for their second place after the 2-1 defeat in the final against England on July 31st. There would have been 60,000 euros for the title. The men would each have received prize money of 400,000 euros if they triumphed at the 2021 European Championship. The next performance bonuses for national players from the association have to be negotiated before the World Cup in Qatar (21 November to 18 December). For women, the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand will take place from July 20 to August 20, 2023.
Neuendorf: “Markets are still very different”
Neuendorf emphasized that the DFB on this topic “by no means backward” was and referred to the record premiums for women that were suspended this year. It must too “to the knowledge” to be taken “that despite the same activity, the markets are still very different”. After the Scholz claim, Bierhoff also repeatedly referred to the much higher income of the men’s team.
National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg explained in an interview on “Today in the stadium” on Bayern 1 at the weekend: “We said we want to have equal play first, that we have better structures, that we have talent equity, that all girls can play football.”
Voss-Tecklenburg: “Bmaybe a little less for men and a little more for women“
Voss-Tecklenburg, who is on vacation and was not in Frankfurt on Tuesday, still has a clear opinion on the bonuses: “I would like to see an equalization, so maybe a little less for men, a little more for women. Maybe someday for the same title that men and women achieve, also the same money.”
It could be exactly in this direction if the DFB is now negotiating with the respective national teams about the World Cup bonuses. Basically, during his flying visit to Frankfurt, Scholz campaigned to ensure that women’s football after the EM euphoria “can be promoted in breadth and also in the top”. 60,000 against 400,000 euros.