Lionesses will not receive World Cup bonuses with Sarina Wiegman’s side at loggerheads with FA

The Football Association are at loggerheads with their own European champions after the governing body told England Women players they will not receive bonuses at this summer’s World Cup.

The decision was finalised this weekend, just days before Sarina Wiegman’s team fly out to Australia for the tournament.

Negotiations had been going on for an extended period of time, with players believing they deserve to be paid extra bonuses on top of the money they will receive from FIFA for taking part in the tournament.

A new pay-structure was brought in after pressure from players’ union Fifpro, FIFA will now award every player competing in the group stage $30,000 (£26,000). The further teams progress, the higher the reward, with every player in the winning team pocketing $270,000.

This is the first time players will be directly compensated for their participation in the tournament and is thought to be higher than previous FA bonuses paid in previous years. 

Sarina Wiegman’s team will be compensated by FIFA’s new pay structure at the World Cup 

Before the new pay structure, it was up to federations as to whether they would distribute prize money to players.

It is understood that the Lionesses’ main frustration at the FA’s decision is that the governing body portrays itself as a world-leading federation in the women’s game, but is failing to match the United States and Australia – who are paying bonuses on top of FIFA’s payments.

Mail Sport understands that players did not want to rock the boat so close to the tournament but felt they needed to take a stand and senior figures at the FA are well aware of their feelings.

Other European nations, including Germany, have followed a similar route to the FA and will not pay extra bonuses to players.

The FA distributed £10,000 to each player to help players’ families attend the World Cup, which is in-line with what the men’s team receive around tournaments.

But players have also been frustrated by the lack of consideration on the commercial strategy around the World Cup. 

The FA’s strict media blackout, which began on June 19, restricted players’ ability to take part in sponsorship campaigns and opportunities.

The FA declined to comment.

The Lionesses, who won last year’s European Championship, were told of the FA’s decision on the eve of this summer’s tournament