Breaking barriers: Dutch to trial woman in men’s senior team
August 5 – Dutch football is to pilot a scheme allowing a woman to play competitively in a men’s team, the KNVB has announced.
Women
Covid-19 fears and a technical review push England to pull out of 2021 SheBelieves Cup
July 31 – England’s women’s national team have pulled out of next year’s SheBelieves Cup in the US, mainly because of existing uncertainties around the Covid-19 pandemic which has ravaged so much of the country.
NWSL numbers shatter records and put women’s league on the TV map
July 29 – Viewing figures from the US show record numbers for the women’s club game and a significant breakthrough for the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League).
NWSL gets all-star cast of owners for Los Angeles franchise
By Paul Nicholson
July 22 – Los Angeles is to get its first professional women’s team with a consortium led by Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman having been awarded a franchise by the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
Bridgepoint pitches for a piece of Women’s Super League
July 20 – The Women’s Super League (WSL) in England, which unlike its top tier male counterparts, was not given the opportunity to complete its season when the coronavirus struck, could be find new funding support in the shape of private equity money.
Women’s World Cup 2019 boosted French economy by €108m
July 7 – Last year’s Women’s World Cup contributed €284 million to France’s GDP, resulting in a net capital gain of €108 million, a report commissioned by the France Football Federation (FFF) and the tournament Local Organising Committee claims.
Virus spread keeps Orlando Pride out but NWSL ready for restart this weekend
June 26 – On Saturday, the NWSL Challenge Cup will kick off the new women’s season in the US, becoming the first team sport to return to play in America amid the coronavirus pandemic.
US Women told $66m pay appeal must wait until trial on unequal conditions is complete
June 24 – The US women’s national team has lost yet another round in their battle for equal pay when a federal judge denied their request for an immediate appeal of the ruling last month to throw out their case.
Spanish women recognised as top two leagues given professional status
June 12 – Spanish women’s football has received a major boost after the Spanish FA (RFEF) said the top-two tiers have gained professional status.
Boom to bust? Report argues women’s game need special measure to survive pandemic
June 12 – After a short period of boom, the women’s game is in danger of going bust as the coronavirus pandemic hits at perhaps the most vulnerable section of world football’s society, indicates a report by the KPMG Football Benchmark team.
Joint Aussie-Kiwi bid wins top marks from FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 inspectors
June 11 – The prospects of an Australasian women’s World Cup in 2023 has received a significant boost after the joint Australia-New Zealand bid received a higher rating by FIFA’s evaluation team than rivals Japan and Colombia.
Italians scrap Serie A women’s season after clubs and players fail to agree a way forward
June 9 – The Italian Serie A Femminile has become the latest European women’s league to be voided after the Italian federation (FIGC) announced that the competition would not be concluded and that no title will be assigned.
SIGA Strives 25: Integrity body opens mentor programme for next generation of female leaders
June 9 – The Sports Integrity Global Alliance (SIGA) has opened the candidature process for its Global Female Mentorship Programme for Aspiring Female Leaders in Sport.
WSL winners and losers: Chelsea handed title, Liverpool relegated
June 5 – Chelsea have been awarded England’s Women’s Super League title on a points per game basis after the season was ended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Japan sets autumn 2021 for kick-off of first women’s professional League
June 3 – The Japan FA (JFA)has taken the next steps towards the launch of its first professional women’s league saying that its official name will be the ‘WE LEAGUE (Women Empowerment League)’ and unveiling the league logo.