by Suzanne Beishon

WORLD players’ union FifPro announced a significant breakthrough yesterday in a dispute between the Italian football federation (FIGC) and the country’s women footballers who are fighting to be recognised as full-time professionals.

The Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) moved to force the hand of the FICG by announcing that all players had unanimously agreed to strike as the standoff reached a climax.

And the threat paid off, with the football authorities finally agreeing to put the agreement reached on October 6 in writing.

Former Italian national team player and now a member of FifPro’s Women’s Football Committee and AIC lawyer Ilaria Pasqui explained: “The Italian women are now going to be treated with the same respect as men and concrete investments made to improve the women’s game in Italy, as in other European countries, or we will fall further behind.”

The agreement between AIC and FIGC includes a change to the duration of the so called “accordo economico” which means players will have the possibility to sign a contract for three years, instead of the previous one-year maximum, the establishment of a €50,000 guarantee fund to help cover player salaries at clubs facing bankruptcy and FIGC investing €450,000 per year to promote women’s football at grass roots level, in schools and throughout different regions of Italy.

“Women’s football deserves to be treated with the same dignity and respect as male football,” Ilaria said. “It’s good that the Italian female players showed solidarity. This is an important development, but only a first step.”

FIFPro congratulated all involved for the strong and united stance taken: “The world players’ union is delighted to see the willingness of the players to fight for a common goal, which in this case is the all-important battle to secure equal rights.

“This is another example that female football players worldwide are ready to fight for respect and equal opportunities, as seen recently when Australia’s women’s national team players cancelled their tour of the US over a long-running CBA dispute with the local federation.”