More than half of women's football players have faced mental health problems, but many do not receive assistance from their clubs. This is what a report released this Monday (12) by the International Federation of Professional Players Associations (FIFPRO) reveals.
The survey, which interviewed 800 athletes from different countries, showed that 57% reported difficulties related to mental health. Among them, half said they had not received psychological support from the clubs.
The survey also identified that 49% of players are considering abandoning football earlier than planned. Among these athletes, 59% cited financial difficulties as one of the reasons, while 46% mentioned psychological stress.
The data is part of the Working Conditions in Women's Football report, presented by FIFPRO as the most comprehensive analysis of players' working conditions in the last decade.
The document shows that, despite the growth of women's football and the increase in revenue in the sector, many athletes still face low wages, precarious contracts and a lack of health care.
According to the survey:
57% of players said they had already faced mental health problems;
half of the athletes who reported these problems did not receive support from clubs;
49% consider ending their career early;
56% have an employment contract;
13% receive social security benefits from clubs;
47% stated that their teams do not have enough professionals to meet the athletes' needs.
Lack of psychological support worries
Mental health problems appear among the main challenges faced by female players, especially given professional pressure and the working conditions offered by clubs.
The report does not detail which disorders or symptoms were reported by the athletes, but identifies psychological stress as one of the factors that lead some of them to consider abandoning the sport early.
Given the results, FIFPRO argues that psychological assistance should become mandatory in women's football.
The organization cites as an example the professional women's league in the United States, the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), which has mental health professionals working with the teams and guarantees players the right to a leave of up to six months for psychological reasons.
For Alex Culvin, director of women's football at FIFPRO, many athletes need to meet professional requirements without receiving the necessary structure to practice the profession.
According to her, conditions have improved significantly for a restricted group, which represents around 5% of players. The majority, however, continue to face difficulties related to remuneration, professional stability and the support offered by clubs.
Low wages and precarious contracts
The players' average monthly salary reached US$2,601, approximately three times the amount recorded in the previous survey, carried out in 2017, after adjusting for inflation.
The median salary, however, is US$1,669. This means that half of the athletes receive less than this amount, indicating an unequal distribution of income.
In ten Eastern European countries analyzed, the average remuneration of female players remains below the national minimum wage. Even in Western Europe and Asia/Oceania, regions that include some of the main markets for women's football, average salaries do not significantly exceed national levels.
Precariousness also appears in work relationships. Only 56% of athletes have an employment contract, while 13% receive social security benefits from clubs.
Furthermore, 47% stated that their teams do not have enough professionals to meet the needs of the players.
FIFPRO demands the adoption of mandatory minimum standards for salaries, facilities, support teams and medical assistance, formalized in national labor agreements.
Currently, only eight of the 30 national women's football leagues analyzed have collective agreements negotiated with players through their unions.
Maternity protection has advanced
Despite the difficulties, the report identified improvements in the conditions offered to athletes who want to have children.
Since the International Football Federation (FIFA) established global minimum standards for maternity protection in 2021, the proportion of players considering abandoning their career to start a family has fallen from 47% in 2017 to 19% in 2026.
Other indicators also improved. The average duration of contracts increased from 12 to 19 months, while the proportion of athletes represented by agents rose from 14% to 41%.
For FIFPRO, advances show that regulation can improve working conditions in women's football, but measures are still needed to ensure that the commercial growth of the sport is accompanied by the protection of players.
The entity advocates that sports clubs and organizations assume greater responsibility for the health, financial stability and working conditions of athletes.
