The great challenges that contrast with the oasis of the women's Barça

BarcelonaBarça started a new edition of the Women's Champions League on Wednesday with a rout of Paris FC (5-2). The 'blaugranes', who play this Saturday at the Logroño pitch (4:30 PM, TV3), are the main favorites for the European throne, but they continue to represent an oasis in the rest of the Spanish state. The Liga F began its fifth season as a professional competition just this past August. Since then, growth has been exponential, but there is still a long way to go.

"People are responding after seeing the difficulties there were with television rights. We all considered that we might not be able to watch the matches, it scared us and we have become aware. It is something we all must continue working on and improving because it will make the players in the league better," points out Marta Perarnau (Manresa, 1995), president of the Futpro association, in conversation with ARA.

Stadium attendance is one of the facets that must be improved after the stands in many fields were quite empty during the first matches. “It is one of the weak points that we currently have and that we all must turn around. I know that they want to improve it from Liga F, because we are all aware of the problem that exists. We are a very family-oriented sport and I love that, because we manage to get many families to go to the stadium,” comments Perarnau.

Another of the aspects to work on is the match schedules. Several players have complained after playing at twelve noon in 35-degree temperatures. “It is a complaint that they have sent to us. We have been talking about this with Liga F and they have explained their situation to us. It will be very difficult to set another time due to many constraints, but I see it as positive that they listen to us. Together we all want the best for the players,” advances the president.

Perarnau has also confirmed that the current collective bargaining agreement has been extended after it expired last June 30th. “We asked to sit down to negotiate in May, but we were met with a refusal. We have everything ready to sit down the day they let us,” he points out, while explaining the legal problem that occurred with the AFE (Association of Spanish Footballers). “Union elections must be held, which require an electoral protocol signed by all the unions, because there is no legal precedent. But there was one union that decided to hold them unilaterally. The other unions denounced it and that has paralyzed everything, but we could sit down to negotiate because we all have representation”.

The president of Futpro highlights that the main demand of the players is to increase professionalization with aspects that go beyond salary. “Necessary resources such as having a private locker room, traveling in the best conditions, having the possibility to stay for two nights if necessary so that the footballer rests well… Things that seem basic, but are not found in all teams”.

Precisely, the difference between clubs within the Liga F is one of the problems they encounter in these meetings. “The realities are very different, but the players who have more privileges are fully aware and are very supportive. They know that if the player who has the worst working and professional conditions improves, the level of the League will improve and they will be the first beneficiaries,” she recognizes. While they wait to be able to make more changes, the association has promoted a 24-hour psychological support telephone line for the player, which is anonymous and independent of the club.

The figure of the woman in football

Another criticism present in current women's football is the low presence of women. Only two benches—out of the thirty that exist between the First and Second Division—are occupied by a female figure: Sara Monforte (Espanyol) and Andrea Esteban (Alavés). “How many opportunities are we giving them on equal terms? Often we choose a coach without experience in women's football, but who has coached a male youth team, over a female coach who has the qualities and the qualifications,” asks Perarnau.

In this line, Futpro has initiated a campaign to adapt the women's football regulations to inclusive language. “It caught our attention that everything was written in the masculine. We want to continue making a difference and for players to be called players, not male players; for referees, referees; captains…”, explains the president, who acknowledges that the initiative has been very well received by all institutions.