"Going in a very good direction": DFB captain emphasizes the importance of "equal play"

Is it always about the money? The discussion of "equal pay" is brought to the DFB women primarily from outside.

"Going in a very good direction": DFB captain emphasizes the importance of "equal play"

Is it always about the money? The discussion of "equal pay" is brought to the DFB women primarily from outside. Even from Chancellor Olaf Scholz. You yourself value "equal play", emphasizes captain Alexandra Popp. The European Football Championship is all about professionalism.

In the debate about equal pay for women and men in football, national player Alexandra Popp referred to the higher income of men. "For us, the most important thing is that we have professional conditions and good seats," said the 31-year-old from the "Bild" newspaper. "It has to be said that we don't earn the same amount as the men. But when I see how our ratings are developing, it's going in a very good direction."

The second group game of the DFB team against favorites Spain (2-0) was watched by 8.02 million people on ARD. During the current European Championship, in which the German soccer players secured their place in the quarter-finals ahead of schedule, they are not concerned with the issue of equal pay, Popp continued.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for equal pay for women and men in sports on Twitter on Tuesday - especially in national teams. DFB director Oliver Bierhoff then suggested a conversation with the SPD politician and said he wanted to explain the chancellor "a little better about the numbers". Scholz is ready for a conversation.

National coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg made a similar statement to striker Popp. "It is also part of the truth that the marketing revenues of men and women, which also result in the tournament premiums, are extremely far apart. Unfortunately, that is still a fact," she told the "Bild". For example, the turnover of the European football union UEFA from TV rights, sponsorship and tickets for a men's European championship is significantly higher and so are the bonuses paid out to the associations.

The German Football Association is trying to ensure that women are paid more appropriately and has offered a record bonus for the European Championship: 60,000 euros will go to the players if they win the title in England. The German players each received 400,000 euros for the title last year.