AAP Soccer

Danish players refuse pay rises in fight for equality

By AAP Newswire

Jun 15, 2024

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was one of the prime movers in Denmark's pay equality deal. -EPA

Players from Denmark's men's team refused a pay rise in what has been described as an "extraordinary step" to ensure they have equal working conditions with their female soccer counterparts.

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The men's team's new agreement with the Danish football association comes into effect after the European Championship in Germany and runs to 2028. It will see male and female internationals receive the same money for representing their national teams.

As part of the new deal, the male players accepted a 15 per cent decrease in their insurance coverage to allow for an upgrade of that of the women's players by 50 per cet. The men also turned down the opportunity for a pay rise.

"It's an extraordinary step to help improve the conditions of the women's national teams," Michael Sahl Hansen, director of Denmark's players' union, said.

"Instead of looking for better conditions for themselves, the players thought about supporting the women's team."

Sahl Hansen said the male players who took part in the negotiations, including Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel, were "very happy" with the deal.

"This was what they wanted. It showed that they are taking the responsibility," he said. "They liked the idea of providing other national teams with better opportunities and conditions."

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press