September 10 – The revamped FA Women’s Super League kicked off its two divisions this weekend with Arsenal putting five goals past Liverpool, while Manchester United Women, making their debut in the second tier, slammed 12 unanswered goals past Aston Villa.
September 4 – The Puerto Rican women’s team have protested against their working conditions in a friendly international against Argentina, demanding the Puerto Rican FA (FPF) improve basic amenities so the team can reach its longterm goal of becoming internationally competitive.
August 20 – Hardcore fans of Lazio have caused outrage by circulating a flier saying women should be banned from part of the Curva Nord of Rome’s Olympic Stadium described by supporters as their “sacred space”.
August 16 – The Women’s U-20 World Cup has reached the business end of the competition with heavyweight quarter-finals set to decide the last four. Hosts France take on reigning champions Korea DPR, Spain meet Nigeria and Germany face Japan. Debutants the Netherlands play England in the last quarter-final.
August 6 – France kicked off the U-20 Women’s World Cup on home soil with an emphatic 4-1 win over Ghana, on an opening day of the tournament held plenty of surprises with defending champions DPR Korea slipping to defeat against England, debutants the Netherlands defeating New Zealand and Mexico recording a first-ever win over Brazil.
July 30 – Barcelona’s women’s team have secured the biggest shirt sponsorship deal to date for a women’s team, according to the club. Stanley Black & Decker have become the team’s first shirt sponsor in a 3-year deal starting this season.
July 30 – Liverpool have rebranded their women’s team from Liverpool Ladies to Liverpool FC Women in time for the start of the revamped Women’s Super League that kicks off September 8/9.
July 25 – Spain’s national federation (RFEF) has created a new second tier league for its women’s clubs with the aim of promoting and strengthening the women’s game in the country.
June 19 – The growth of the women’s club game has sparked a new area of stats and strategic data focus. One of the findings of a new report is that a financial divide between clubs is already starting to take place, a trend mirroring the men’s game.
June 11 – One of the benefits of being Manchester United is that you seemingly don’t have to wait in a queue for anything. Two weeks ago the club that has never had a women’s team was catapulted straight into the FA Women’s Super League. Last week they announced former England international Casey Stoney (pictured), an MBE, as head coach of the new team.
April 12 – The International Champions Cup (ICC), the summer pre-season ‘tournament’ from US marketing agency Relevent Sports, is to launch a four-team women’s summer competition including Manchester City, Paris St. Germain, and North Carolina Courage from the National Women’s Soccer League in the US.
March 14 – The English FA has received 15 club applications to join the expanded top two tiers of women’s competition. As many as four new full time professional teams could enter the Women’s Super League (WSL), taking the league to 14 teams.
By Samindra Kunti
December 18 – FIFPro, the World Player’s Union, has published a report exposing gender inequality in the game, urging football’s authorities to support the professionalisation of the women’s game.
By Samindra Kunti
December 15 – The Dutch FA (KNVB) has agreed to a significant pay rise for its national women’s team, but has shied away from the Norwegian model of equal payment to the men’s game.
December 15 – Kenya has been chosen by FIFA to form part of the pilot phase for FIFA’s new women’s football development programmes, with Kenya Football being offered the opportunity to benefit from a project which will focus on participation growth.