Denmark’s male soccer players have decided to reject a pay rise for their national team players in order to ensure equal base pay with their female counterparts, the World Players’ Federation (FIFPro) said on Friday.
The country’s football governing body (DBU) tried to ensure equal wages for both teams, but players from both squads did not prefer the men’s side to pay the women’s side.
Players’ union Spillerforeningen and the men’s players have instead put forward a plan in which the men would reject a pay rise and both teams would receive the same basic remuneration for playing for the national team.
Men’s team insurance coverage has been reduced by 15%, increasing women’s team insurance coverage by 50% and men’s under-21 team insurance coverage by more than 40%.
The new four-year contract with DBU is set to come into effect after the European Championships, which begin later on Friday.
“The men’s team has decided not to ask for any changes to the terms of the new contract,” Spillerforeningen manager Michael Sahl Hansen said in a statement.
“This is a special measure that will help improve conditions for the women’s national team. So, rather than finding good conditions on their own, the players started thinking about supporting the women’s national team.
“When we presented the plan to our negotiating team consisting of Andreas Christensen, Thomas Delaney, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel, they were very pleased.”
The plan also includes the players and DBU working together to create a clubhouse that can be used by all national teams, including men’s, women’s and youth teams, as well as raising a development fund.
The funds will be paid out when the men’s team qualifies for the World Cup or Euros, and in part by DBU, with both teams contributing 1 million Danish kroner ($143,289).
“Athletes can suggest how the funds should be used – they can suggest creating or supporting facilities for their national teams,” Hansen added.
“This is what they wanted. It has shown that it is carrying out its responsibilities. They liked the idea of providing better opportunities and conditions to other national teams.”
