The advance of respect for Women in Sport has accelerated in recent years and is already in a better place than many might have imagined. But it has still got a long way to go to achieve the parity of esteem we have been pushing the agenda on for a decade. We have been far from alone but progress is all about today and tomorrow and we cannot ease up.
Change generally comes in smaller rather than larger gestures. In the everyday improvements that add up over time to make a real difference.
It’s the 24/7 spotlight that matters and to keep that on, Sport for Business, with the support of our Women in Sport Partner Lidl will, each Friday, highlight seven things in the week gone by that have been important to note in the world of Women in Sport.
Week Ending January 20th, 2022
One: LIDL LAUNCH OF NATIONAL LEAGUES
The Lidl LGFA National League gets underway this weekend and promises to be the start of what could be the most competitive ever season for the sport.
Players from eight competing counties gathered at Lidl Ireland’s Head Office in Tallaght, Dublin, yesterday and all were keen to point out the fact that three of the four semi-finalists in last year’s TG4 All Ireland Senior Championship had not been there the year before, and that neither Cork nor Dublin had made it past the Quarter-final stage.
Meath went on to add the Championship to their break through win of 2021 and their victory in the Lidl League Division One last season so they are the favourites to emerge on top again, albeit under new management after Davy Nelson replaced Eamonn Murray.
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Two: KERRY SWITCH AWAY FROM WHITE SHORTS
Kerry Captain Siofra O’Shea was pictured at the launch wearing Kerry’s new Navy shorts that they will wear throughout the campaign and beyond, replacing the traditional white.
They are the latest team to switch from white amid natural concerns over playing in white during a period.
The English Women’s football team highlighted the issue last year and a number of teams have now switched to darker colours, including the IRFU for Women’s rugby though that may not be done until after this season’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
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Three: FIFA RULING BOOSTS MATERNITY LEAVE STATUS FOR FOOTBALLERS
Sara Bjork Gunnersdottir has won a big victory for Women’s rights in sport with the award of a €82,000 payout from Lyon in a case relating to her taking maternity leave after signing for the club in 2020 and scoring in the 2020 Champions League Final.
In March 2021 she realised she was pregnant and got permission from the club to return to her native Iceland but also confirmation that she would return.
A FIFA ruling last year grants women the right to be paid their full salary during pregnancy and then two-thirds of their full salary for 14 weeks while they are on maternity leave.
Lyon had chosen to implement french laws around absence and underpaid the player. She took a case with FIFA who ruled in her favour and gave the club 45 days to make full payment of be excluded from the transfer market.
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Four: KPMG REPORT HIGHLIGHTS VALUE OF SPORT TO CAREER
New research, commissioned by KPMG and conducted by iReach, emphasises the importance of sport in the daily lives of Irish businesswomen.
The study was conducted entirely with key female decision-makers in businesses nationwide, with 75 percent of respondents citing that they have participated in sport at some level. This increases to 90 percent participation in sport for CEOs.
That tracks a 2015 survey published by ESPN which also highlighted that former athletes amongst women also attracted a seven percent lift in salary.
Having research specific to the Irish business environment is a valuable addition to our knowledge base and a strong commendation for the benefits of sport on a career as well as mental and physical wellbeing.
The research uncovered a wealth of interesting insights, with 88 percent of those surveyed believing that the skills they have learned through sport are transferable to the workplace, and 94 percent of women in business saying they would encourage a female relative to participate in sport.
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Five: THREE NOMINATED FOR FIFA PUSKAS AWARD
Three goals scored by women players have been nominated for the prestigious FIFA Puskas Award. Allesia Russo, Amandine Henry and Salma Paralluelo will go head-to-head with Kyllian M’Bappe and Mario Ballotelli for the award.
This is the same award that Stephenie Roche was shortlisted for in 2014.
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Six: INDIAN CRICKET RIGHTS BREAK €100 MILLION BARRIER
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Seven: WELSH FA JOIN THE EQUALITY TRAIN
The Welsh FA, led by Ireland’s Noel Mooney have joined the FAI and others in offering equal pay to players representing the country, regardless of gender.
The men took a 25 percent cut which has allowed for the women to get a 25 percent rise and put them on an equal footing.
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