The female Absolute signs a "historic" agreement for economic equality with the male

MADRID, 14 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the women's national team signed a historic agreement on Tuesday by which the Spanish internationals reach equality with the men's national team in terms of issues such as premiums and image rights.

The agreement, which has an initial duration of five years, was signed in the Ciudad del Fútbol de Las Rozas (Madrid) by the president of the RFEF, Luis Rubiales, and by the FC Barcelona central defender Irene Paredes, first captain of the ' Roja', with the presence of Amanda Gutiérrez, president of the Futpro union, although there were also representatives from the federation and from the AFE and Footballers ON.

Through what has been signed, the two senior teams will also have the same economic conditions in concentrations and the same distribution criteria for prizes from UEFA and FIFA, and travel and travel conditions will also be improved.

"It is a very important day. The negotiations have been long, but finally they have been fruitful and with an agreement that is cutting edge and that is at the top at a European level," said Rubiales, who pointed out that the internationals asked to be "advised" both by Amanda Gutiérrez and by Reyes Bellver, a lawyer specialized in Sports Law, which was a "novelty because they always tend to be direct with the captains".

The leader indicated that the players will enjoy "an advance on bonuses, the same as with the men's team," and that the agreement consists of "two parts, one for bonuses and the other for image rights." As for the first, without giving figures, he pointed out that they will be "on a percentage basis", but that they will have "a corrective factor of positive discrimination because the money that comes from bonuses to the women's team is less than to the men's." "Percentage-wise, the girls benefit more and I think it's fairer," he warned.

Regarding image rights, he stressed that when he was appointed president of the RFEF in 2018 they realized that the women's team was not on equal terms with the men's team and that it was something that "had to be put to an end".

"In the World Cup in France they already had a quantity, but it begins to improve from this year and retroactively by 20 percent and up to 80 in 2027. In addition, special prizes for image rights are maintained for special moments such as classifications for a final phase and of all the sponsorships that reach the RFEF they are going to have a percentage, the distribution is already up to them. It is difficult to find such a complete agreement and one that improves so much, we thank them for trusting us, "he said. .

For her part, Irene Paredes also described the day as "historic" and thanked "on behalf of all the players" the RFEF and Rubiales "for their predisposition and effort to reach such an important agreement and demonstrate with facts that He wants to keep pushing the team to the top".

"It has been a long process and we saw it as complicated, but this agreement of such magnitude reinforces the commitment and improves the conditions for us to carry out what we do best in the best possible way and so that it is seen as rewarding the point of development in which there is women's football," added the center-back, who thanked Futpro "for the advice" and Reyes Bellver, "who has been key in this negotiation."

Finally, Amanda Gutiérrez welcomed "historic news for women's football" and showed her "sincere gratitude" to the RFEF and its president for their "willingness to reach this important agreement and demonstrate with facts that their interest is that football feminine continues to grow".

The lawyer stressed that the organizations must have "a change of mentality, especially those that control this sport, to improve conditions and compete on equal terms with their peers." "Today we can say very loudly that the RFEF has had the will to reach this agreement and that it supports women's football, it is an agreement that will lay the foundations so that we can continue to grow and that there is a bright future with the players we have" she stressed.

For Gutiérrez, this signing "represents a turning point" and in the union that he presides over and which is the majority in women's football, they are "proud" of their work in the short term since its creation.

"The improvement of the internationals was one of our priorities and it is a step forward for those who are there and those who will come, although we are aware that there is still a lot of work to be done and that we need all the players to join in this change" , pointed out the president of Futpro, who thanked Reyes Bellver for "his tireless work these months". "Without your knowledge and experience this would not have been possible," she concluded.