The FA

BARCLAYS have renewed their backing of the WSL in a record £30million partnership thought to be the biggest investment in women’s sport in the country.The three-year deal will also see the financial firm become sponsors of the FA Women’s Championship from the start of next term – the 2022-23 season.
Barclays new deal with the WSL will see FA Women’s Championship have sponsors for the first time in its historyCredit: PA
It is reported the deal, which will run until the end of the 2024-25 term, will see Barclays double the amount it invested as part of an existing agreement which began in 2019-20.
And that figure was in excess of £10 million for the league.
Kelly Simmons, the FA women’s professional game director said: “Barclays have played a crucial role in the growth of women’s and girls’ football, so it is excellent news that they are committing to a new record investment in the women’s and girls’ pyramid until 2025.
“The FA Women’s Championship plays a pivotal role in the ongoing development of the pyramid structure and the credible history and association to football that Barclays has will make the league even stronger.”
The news comes in a season that has seen analysts claim the WSL is on course to become one of the four most-watched domestic sports leagues on television.
And it comes two months after the Manchester derby set a new TV audience record with 1.1million viewers tuning in.
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The new agreement is expected to see more than £15million invested in girls’ and women’s games across the country.
It will also include a sponsorship extension of a Girls’ Football School Partnership run by the FA which currently involves around 12,000 schools around the nation.
Football bosses have set a target of reaching 20,000 schools coaching girls to play the sport by 2024.
The WSL is predicted to become one of the most-watched domestic sports leagues on televisionCredit: Rex
Simmons added: “As part of The FA’s 2020-2024 Women’s and Girls’ strategy, Inspiring Positive Change, we set ourselves the ambition of providing equal access for all girls at 90% of primary and secondary schools in the UK.
“Barclays continued support and investment has allowed us to make great strides in achieving this ambition.
“From grassroots to the top tiers of women’s football, we are also extremely excited to welcome Barclays as the new title sponsor of the FA Women’s Championship.
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WOMEN are becoming less tolerant of sexist behaviour at football matches.And one in five say they have been on the receiving end of ‘unwanted physical attention’ whilst at men’s games, according to a Football Supporters Association survey.
Fifty-nine per of respondents to the FSA’s survey want to see clubs condemn people exhibiting sexist behaviourCredit: Getty
More than 2,000 match-going female fans were questioned as part of the study carried out by the national body for supporters in England and Wales between August and September this year.
And nearly half (49 per cent) say that seeing sexist behaviour in action infuriated them.
This is a rise from one in three (29 per cent) respondents to a similar FSA survey of match goers carried out in 2014.
Back then, one in four women (24 per cent) say they would brush off sexism they saw at a game by laughing it off.
But this figure has now dropped to one in eight (12 per cent).
And four in ten women (39 per cent) say they would like to see sexists thrown out of football grounds compared to 26 per cent seven years ago.
The FSA say it is encouraging that fans are becoming less accepting of sexism and abusive behaviour at men’s football matches.

Ally Simcock, an FSA board member and Port Vale fan said: “I’ve been going to men’s football for a long time now and have heard my share of sexist comments, but a lot has changed recently.
“Things like the #MeToo movement have helped change people’s perceptions about what they’re willing to put up with, and what is or isn’t acceptable.
“It is heartening to see the change in attitudes over recent years, with fans less likely to be accepting of sexist behaviour, or willing to just brush it off or excuse it as banter.”
Other findings from the survey reveal that:

59 per cent of match-going fans who are women want to see clubs denounce people engaging in sexist behaviour at games.
Seeing sexism at matches makes one in 20 female football supporters not want to attend in future.
51 per cent of fans say high ticket prices as a barrier to going to men’s games. with 45 per cent also citing cost and distance to games as an issue.

Meanwhile, 48 per cent of respondents flagged cost and travelling as the biggest issues preventing them from going to women’s matches.
In response to the survey, the FA says it is committed to tackling discrimination at games.
It is disappointing to see so many female supporters being subject to inappropriate and unacceptable conduct from fellow fansEFL Spokesperson
An FA spokesperson told Sky Sports: “We recently launched A Game For All, our new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, which outlines our commitment and plans to deliver a game free from discrimination.
“This commitment includes ensuring the increased inclusivity of women, as well as creating safer venues for all, by using innovative tools to deter antisocial behaviour, developing training programmes for employees and stewards, and taking appropriate action against anyone found guilty of abuse within our venues.”
An EFL spokesperson said: “It is disappointing to see so many female supporters being subject to inappropriate and unacceptable conduct from fellow fans.
“As with any insight or feedback we receive, we will consider how it can help improve matchday operations and inform steward training going forward.
48 per cent of survey respondents say costs and travelling distance are among the biggest barriers preventing them going to women’s gamesCredit: PA
“The League and member clubs have worked extensively over the years to grow the diversity of our collective fanbase and ensure that is reflective of the communities in which clubs reside.
“As ever, we will continue to work with the FSA, football’s stakeholders and campaigners operating in this space.
“Having launched our Together Against Discrimination matchday campaign at the start of the season, our message is clear: sexism and discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable – those who do not agree are not welcome.”
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