The reality of some players in Champions League: only 200 € and forced another job
Despite the soaring popularity of the Women’s Champions League, many players in the qualifying rounds are living far from professional standards. The article published on fifpro.com reveals some examples and player´s stories:
- While the Women’s Champions League boasts 90,000+ capacity crowds, record-setting revenues, and millions of streaming views, many players in the qualifying rounds still endure basic and sub-standard working conditions.
- The Croatian club ZNK Osijek, despite advancing past champions of Slovakia and Ireland before losing to FC Twente, could not match the professional standards of elite clubs like Real Madrid or Arsenal in terms of player welfare.
- According to one former player, salaries were below €1,000 per month, forcing many to work second jobs—as waitresses, café cleaners, youth coaches—just to make ends meet.
- The club lacked a qualified physiotherapist and provided no rehabilitation or surgical care for serious injuries, leaving players to manage on their own.
- Kateřina Svitková has already spoken about this issue in the past. Her team, Slavia Prague, played in the group stage of the Champions League, and her teammates had to take time off work to attend the matches.
This article is really worth reading. The full text is here.
Sources
More Videos & Highlights
Watch the moments behind the story.
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | LISAN ALKEMADE: PSV Eindhoven Goalkeeper on How Mainstream Media Treat Women's Football Goalkeepers
1 min QB Originals QB Originals | QB Break with Franny Černá | Coffee, Football & Life in Prague
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | “We Celebrated Like We Won the World Cup” — Klára Cahynová on Beating Barcelona
4 min Off The Pitch Focus on the pitch, relax in the paddock: These footballers are F1 enthusiasts
4 min Strong Story No longer a choice: Motherhood in modern women’s football
2 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | BÁRA VOTÍKOVÁ — First Czech Woman at Arsenal. On & Off the Pitch
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | First Game. New Country. Hattrick. Hallie Bergford Story
1 min The Best Actions NWSL expansion sides suffer defeats in season debuts
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | SUE SMITH — A True Pioneer of the Women’s Game
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations is here. Who are the Queenballer's players to watch?
Wolfsburg's Janou Levels before the quarterfinals: We’re in good form — now we have to show it.”
An emotional goodbye: Guro Reiten leaves Chelsea after seven years for NWSL champions
Madelen Janogy’s future remains purple after signing new Fiorentina deal
GIVEAWAY: Win VIP ticket for the Europa Cup game with Queenballers!
Historic Moment: London City Lionesses to Play Before First Sell-Out Crowd
The New Marta? OL Lyonnes Sign Promising Brazilian Talent Explore more from The Pulse
Keep discovering more stories from women's football.
