Women’s FA Cup will get a TENFOLD increase in prize money from next season to £3MILLION

The Football Association has announced a huge £3million increase in prize money for the 2022-23 Women’s FA Cup.

The current prize pot stands at just £309,000, meaning next season will see almost a tenfold rise in winnings.

The FA are yet to decide on how the money will be divided and allocated but want all clubs that enter the competition to benefit. This means a ‘disproportionate’ amount of it will be invested into the early rounds to help clubs further down the pyramid.

Sue Campbell, Director of Women’s Football at the FA, said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to make this announcement of increased funding for the Vitality Women’s FA Cup because it’s going to benefit so many clubs across the women’s football pyramid.

‘The FA Cup, whether men’s or women’s, is the biggest and best domestic cup competition in the world, and this increased investment from The FA highlights that we want clubs competing in it to be rewarded, while also highlighting our ongoing commitment to the women’s game.

‘Women’s football continues to be in a growth phase and we are always looking to make improvements and investment to drive it forward and break new boundaries. This is certainly one of the most pleasing during my time with the organisation, because I know it means so much to so many.’

Fans of the women’s game have protested over the huge disparity in prize money this season. The £309,000 shared by the 300 teams in this year’s women’s competition is less than two per cent of the £15.9million distributed between the 735 teams in the men’s game.

Winners of this year’s Women’s FA Cup will receive £25,000 but there is £1.8million on offer to the team that lifts the men’s competition and £900,000 for the runners-up.

The £309,000 shared by the 300 teams in this year’s women’s competition is less than two per cent of the £15.9million distributed between the 735 teams in the men’s game

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has also been a vocal critic of the disparity. ‘That’s unbelievable,’ Hayes said of the difference back in January.

‘This has to shift, it really does, [less than] five per cent of the total amount, because when we talk about the likes of Coventry going through a liquidation process or seeking a buyer, think about the impact an appearance in the FA Cup could make for them, if they were to receive prize money.

‘What people don’t realise about the prize money, and I’m not talking about Chelsea, I’m not talking about the top clubs, I’m talking about the trickle-down effect.

‘It’s the same for the broadcasting, we have to keep pushing, because the fact that we get [less than] five per cent of that total fund is completely unacceptable.’

The quarter-final of the Women’s FA Cup takes place this weekend with the final set to be played on the same weekend of the men’s competition for the first time. The men’s final will be played at Wembley on May 14, with the women’s final taking place the next day.

Director of Women’s Football at the FA Sue Campbell has welcomed the prize pot increase