Letter to Sepp Blatter, President of International Federation of Association Football - Discriminatory Pay for Women

Letter

Dear Mr. Blatter,

I write to urge you to reconsider and revise FIFA's discriminatory policy which pays male and female players unequally. According to the FIFA Women's Football 2014 survey, the top priority for the 177 member associations surveyed is to increase the overall number of women and girls playing football. The second most cited priority is player development. It is hard to see how FIFA can accomplish either of these goals if the winning team of the Women's World Cup is paid four times less than a men's team that fails to make it past a tournament's first round.

This year's World Cup proved that women playing soccer can inspire a country and bring a crowd to its feet just as men can. But women will never achieve equality in the sport if FIFA itself discriminates against them.

FIFA has made an array of excuses for the gap in winnings. In comments to the media, Secretary General Jerome Valcke has argued that the discrepancy is justified because there have been 30 men's tournaments and only 7 women's tournaments. But FIFA should not use its own failure to establish a Women's World Cup before 1991 as a justification for pay discrimination. By Valcke's logic, women should wait until 2107 to receive equal pay.

Valcke has also cited disappointing advertising revenues, which is a baffling excuse for a non-profit under investigation for corruption related to the issuing of media and marketing rights.

Instead of continuing this unfair treatment, FIFA should follow the example set by tennis. The winnings of the Gentleman's and Ladies' Singles and Doubles at Wimbledon this week will be equal. The same is true for the U.S. Open, Australian Open, and the French Open. Women's tennis has adopted this standard because they know it will encourage stronger competition, better players and more fans over the long run.

You have the opportunity and responsibility to follow this example. FIFA's mission is to develop "football everywhere and for all." It does not discriminate, and neither should you.

It is unfortunate but true that women around the world are accustomed to earning less for the same work. This form of discrimination is as old as time, but it does not have to continue. We have heard the excuses for centuries, but the time has come for change.

I urge you to take a stand and commit to rewarding men and women equally for excellence on the field.

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