Emma Hayes SLAMS disparity in prize money between men and women’s FA Cup

Emma Hayes has slammed the disparity in prize money for the men and women’s FA Cup competitions as ‘completely unacceptable’.

The fourth round in the women’s game takes place this weekend with winners set to receive £2,000, while losers will pick up just £500. Victorious teams in the fourth round of the men’s competition will receive £90,000.

A fan-led protest calling for an ‘Equal FA Cup’ will take place at games this weekend.

Winners of this year’s women’s FA Cup will earn just £25,000 (pic, last year’s winners Chelsea)

Hayes’ Chelsea beat Arsenal to win last season’s competition in December but picked up less than two percent of what Leicester received for their triumph in the men’s final.

Winners of this year’s women’s FA Cup will earn £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.

‘That’s unbelievable,’ Hayes said of the difference. ‘This has to shift, it really does, [less than] five percent 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 percent of that total fund is completely unacceptable.’

There is £1.8million on offer to the team that lifts the men’s competition this season 

The issue of prize money was raised by Labour MP Alison McGovern during a debate on women’s football in Westminster on Wednesday, which was brought about following the near collapse of Championship side Coventry United.

The club was placed into voluntary liquidation two days before Christmas before a buyer was found at the eleventh hour. Despite the players being fully professional, most were not protected by the PFA due to never having played in the Women’s Super League. 

There are five full-time teams in the Championship but the league is still classed as semi-professional.

The issue of prize money was raised by Labour MP Alison McGovern during a debate on women’s football in Westminster on Wednesday

‘There was a brilliant letter [to] Nadine Dorries [from Zarah Sultana], the MP for Coventry South. She wrote a wonderful letter to the Commons.’ Hayes continued.

‘I’m really pleased she highlighted that. I actually have the letter in my pocket. This, for me, is a significant news story that we have to keep highlighting, because we must protect our smaller clubs.

‘We’ve got to grow the women’s game. We can only do that with prize money and broadcasting, so for the likes of Coventry, and all those smaller clubs further down the ladder, it’s absolutely critical that this is debated in Parliament.’