The accounts are already out. The referees of the Women’s First Division requested in the communique calling for the stoppage some “minimum conditions” for the exercise of their activity “within professional competition”. This meant having, at the very least, reached the interprofessional minimum wage, which was not the case. Now, with the agreement reached by all parties, the main referees will go from receiving 300 euros per game to receiving 1,666. The assistants, from €166 to €1,066, and the fourth referees, from €84 to €250.
Economic agreement ‘in extremes’
The deal, however, does not end there. A key part of the agreement has been the function of the CSD, which for three years will provide an extra 350,000 euros destined for an individualized mutual fund that the referees will be able to dispose of once their professional careers have ended. The Federation will also pay the same amount during the first three years to the Women’s Professional Football League (LPFF) through the coordination agreement, and the money will be allocated entirely to the clubs to deal with the arbitration of the competition.
Through a statement, the F League wanted to remember, however, that “as much as some would like to believe, professionalization is not a key that opens a chest of money”. “Professionalization brings the possibility that women’s football can be managed independently by those who truly believe in it, and that it is thus possible to have the necessary tools to make it grow.” In addition, he wanted to thank “the unity and firmness of clubs, footballers, fans and public opinion”, which have managed to “bring the arbitration collective to its senses”.
This weekend, therefore, the League will begin with the second day stipulated in the calendar. The first, which was postponed due to the strike, remains to be re-situated in an increasingly tight calendar. As for the Catalan teams, Barça will make their debut at Johan Cruyff this Saturday at 12pm, while Llevant Les Planes will visit Betis on Sunday at 6pm, in the last match of the day.
