As the FA prepare to abandon the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship, fears over the future of women’s football are mounting.
One club, AFC Fylde women, have already been disbanded during the coronavirus pandemic, and there are concerns that more could follow in the aftermath of the season’s curtailment.
Arsenal’s Vivienne Miedema has predicted the crisis will halt the game’s progress and Shadow Minister for Sport, Alison McGovern, on Wednesday said women’s football could be pushed back into “the wilderness” if the season is ended without a “broader plan”.
FIFPro, the global players’ union, have gone as far as to warn that the very existence of the sport itself is under threat.
It is, seemingly, a bleak picture, but throughout the women’s pyramid there is also surprising optimism that the shutdown provides unique opportunity for reflection.
“Players and supporters, who really want to see the women’s game at the elite level succeed, [want to] know what is happening” said Alison McGovern.
“It’s a good opportunity to look at our practices, at whether we can do things better, in terms of stadia, broadcasting, sponsorship, the way we play the game,” Arsenal boss Joe Montemurro told Standard Sport.
Source: Es sports Uk
