IWL 2023: IWL Minimum Wage Policy: Involved parties have reacted differently to the All India Football Federation’s (AIFF) decision to guarantee a minimum wage for female footballers in the Indian Women’s League (IWL) beginning with the upcoming season. Some clubs have accused the national federation of making decisions unambiguously, while others have questioned the decision’s sustainability. Follow Indian Women’s Football Team LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
“In one way, it’s women empowerment. But practically, it’s tough. We have just started the journey and these are unimaginable figures,” an IWL team was quoted saying to Deccan Herald (DH).
The top eight IWL participating teams were required by the AIFF to have at least 10 Indian players on yearly contracts of at least Rs 3.2 lakh. For the football players, who had been competing with little financial motivation, it was a positive development. If the judgement is put into effect, at least 80 players will be able to make a minimum wage in the nation.
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The move, however, has not been well received by the clubs, with one of the major spenders and owner of Odisha FC Rohan Sharma challenging the AIFF’s decision on Twitter. Many lesser teams are not happy, even though Odisha and the reigning champions Gokulam Kerala FC can handle the financial trials.
“AIFF should have taken the opinion of the clubs. We don’t have grounds, we are paying around Rs 4000-6000 to book grounds for training. This (minimum wage) means a budget of around Rs 1.2 crore a season. That’s not possible. Clubs like us will collapse.”
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“There is no sponsorship, the telecast is poor. The Rs 10 lakh cash prize money (for winning the league) is so low that it doesn’t even offset the expenditure,” said another IWL club owner to DH. “Next year we have to take a stand on whether to participate. I can just run my academy and play in the local league.”
Despite hosting the Asian Cup and the U-17 World Cup in the last year, the federation has not long given the women’s game its due approach. The league, a tiny competition, has primarily served as an opt-in activity, as few states actually host State leagues. The FIFA’s disbursement of cash for the administration of women’s football has also been questioned.
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AIFF acknowledged the shift as the first step towards entering the professional sector, nevertheless, when questioned.
“When the economic demand for players goes up, it attracts girls to take up football. A lot of them stop because it’s not economically viable. It adds pressure on the clubs but it will give a clear direction. We will see serious, long-term investors come into women’s football,” said AIFF secretary general Shaji Prabhakaran to DH.
Eight clubs for the first division of the next season will be chosen by AIFF using the results of the upcoming IWL season, which begins on April 26 in Ahmedabad. The league will consist of 10 teams and last for four months. Two more will be added through a qualification procedure. The following season will see the implementation of promotion and relegation.
“It will be the first time we will have a league structure in IWL. Otherwise, we never knew who played. There was no stability to think long term,” said Prabhakaran to DH.
AIFF would provide subsidies to the clubs, and the amount will depend on the participating clubs, locations, and other things, he also stated. Prabhakaran also affirmed that the IWL prize money will increase for the upcoming season and expressed confidence that a more organised league will attract more broadcasters’ interest. The AIFF is also looking at Universities to support the women’s game, which is a fairly encouraging step.
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