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    Emma Hayes says Chelsea clash with Liverpool should not have gone ahead after WSL game is called off due to frozen pitch

    EMMA HAYES called the turf at Kingsmeadow “an ice rink” after Chelsea were forced to postpone their WSL clash with Liverpool.The 12:30pm match – which was being aired live on BBC Two – was halted after just six minutes due to frosty pitch conditions.
    Chelsea’s clash with Liverpool became the second WSL duel to fall foul of a frozen pitch this weekendCredit: Alamy
    The match was called off after just six minutes by referee Neil Hair due to icy conditions at KingsmeadowCredit: Alamy
    Emma Hayes addressed the crowd at Kingsmeadow to apologise for the game being haltedCredit: Alamy
    Liverpool boss Matt Beard says the match could have been called off before it kicked offCredit: PA
    Mild boos rang out from the crowd which included fans who travelled down to London from Liverpool early this morning to watch Matt Beard’s side in action.
    A pitch inspection took place at 9:30 today with Chelsea tweeting that the fixture would go ahead.
    But the match was later halted by referee Neil Hair with the surface being deemed unsafe to play on before officially being called off in the ninth minute.
    The game was the second WSL fixture to be called off due to a frozen pitch with Tottenham’s duel with Leicester also postponed.

    Hayes apologised to supporters who travelled to the ground saying the decision to call off the match was wrong in terms of the timing but right for the players in terms of safety
    The Chelsea chief told BBC Sport: “Where do you begin? You can see from the opening minutes it’s like an ice rink down the sides.
    “For Matt Beard he’s upset that it got to that point and he’s right.
    “It’s not for managers to decide that, it’s for the FA and officials to determine when it’s on.
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    “We did have heaters on. I think this is when we have to start saying to ourselves we have to have undersoil heating.
    “We have got to take our game seriously.
     “Yes, we can have blowers and little pitch tents, but it’s not going to be enough – it’s minus one (degrees here).”
    When BBC Sport guest pundit Hope Powell asked if the game should have started, Hayes said “never”.
    The Chelsea chief added: “You know everybody wants to get the game on.
    “But when you got emotions of one team wants to play, one team doesn’t want to play, that’s when you have to have outside parties there.
    “There’s no FA here and they need to be at our games to execute those decisions.”
    Reds chief Beard criticised the length of time it took to make the decision to postpone the game with players thought to have complained about the turf being slippery.
    Hayes’ and Beard’s teams will face each other in the FA Cup fourth round next SundayCredit: Alamy
    When asked for this thoughts on what referee communicated to him, Beard said: “I don’t know why it took six or seven minutes that it was frozen.
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    “It was frozen in the morning and frozen in the warm-up.
    “I’m just gutted for our fans because they set off at five o’clock this morning when it could have been postponed at 9:30 because the pitch wasn’t safe.” More

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    Eni Aluko hopes to inspire young women who do not make it as footballers to take on other jobs in the sport

    ENI ALUKO hopes young female players who do not make the grade as pros will not be deterred from pursuing football careers off the pitch. The former Chelsea star spoke out this week as Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall said female coaches and technical staff are “the most under-tapped resource in professional football”. 
    Eni Aluko hopes to highlight the efforts of women building football careers off the pitchCredit: Getty
    The former Chelsea ace hopes to encourage young women do not make the cut as professional players to pursue other roles in the sportCredit: PA:Press Association
    Debate around the lack of women working as coaches in the professional game as well as in backroom roles on these shores has been ongoing. 
    Currently just four managers in the WSL are female with Carla Ward, Emma Hayes, Kelly Chambers and Rehanne Skinner in charge of Aston Villa, Chelsea, Reading and Tottenham. 
    Last March a report produced by Fair Game, a collective of 34 football clubs stated that only 11.1 percent of board members at Premier League clubs are female. 
    Aluko is supporting a campaign backed by the Blues, and mobile phone firm Three, highlighting women working in coaching and football roles off the pitch. 
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    The former England forward, 35, whose old club play Liverpool later, said said: “I’m passionate about encouraging girls and young women who may not necessarily make it as pros.
    “There are so many other things to do in football if you love the game. 
    “It’s about what are the other career paths in the sport for women away from the pitch. 
    “The more we spotlight those careers, the more young women and girls can think, ‘even if I don’t play or make it as a pro, I can still have a career in the game’.”
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    Aluko, now a TV pundit, relished her previous post as sporting director at Aston Villa Women.
    She helped the club to bring in a number of experienced internationals in the team’s first WSL season in 2020-21, including a loan swoop for Japan forward Mana Iwabuchi.
    It is a job Aluko did from January 2020 before leaving to take up a similar post with US top-flight side Angel City in May 2021. 
    The team, who finished eighth in their first season in the National Women’s Soccer League last year, have a majority female ownership.
    Their investors include Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman and retired 23-time tennis grand slam winner Serena Williams. 
    Eni Aluko oversaw player recruitment at Angel City FCCredit: Getty
    The club are National Women’s Soccer League newest side competing in the division for the first time last yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Aluko, who won eight major trophies Birmingham, Charlton, Chelsea and Juventus, became the National Women’s Soccer outfit’s first sporting director before departing this month.
    She added: “I learned so much and gained a lot of great experience, particularly at Villa where the job was really to keep the team up in the first season, professionalise the women’s team and now you see where they are.
    “Just from being an established WSL team, they’ve been able to go on and sign some top players like Rachel Daly.
    “My job at Angel City was very much a unique role in terms of building the team from scratch, which I enjoyed doing.
    “My skills as a trained lawyer and player fitted into that.”
    Today Eluko’s former side Chelsea and her old boss Emma Hayes will bid to extend their three-point lead at the WSL’s summit when they take on Liverpool who are ninth. 
    The Blues lost their season-opening game against the Reds in September before embarking on a run of nine wins and a draw.
    Aluko said: “Chelsea are very much where you’d expect them to be at the top of the table
    “But it is quite a close title race this year with Man United playing brilliantly and Man City and Arsenal there as well.
    “It’s great to see such a competitive title battle. 
    “I was at Chelsea’s match against Arsenal at the Emirates last Sunday when they drew (1-1) “Arsenal were probably the best team on the day but Chelsea always find a way of getting a result.” 
    Eluko, who won three league titles and two FA Cups during her two-year spell with the Blues has fond memories of watching Erin Cuthbert make her mark in the team in her early Chelsea days
    The versatile midfielder and wing-back has notched up two goals and one assist in 10 starts this term
    Goals including a wonder strike against Tottenham at Stamford Bridge which saw her win December’s WSL Goal of the Month award. 
    Aluko added: “I remember when Erin came to Chelsea and she was on trial. And we were like, ‘who is this cocky little player?’ 
    “She has a bit of banter about her.
    Aluko has been impressed by Erin Cuthbert’s efforts for Chelsea this seasonCredit: Getty
    “I’ll never forget on the first day of her trial, she scored an incredible left-foot volley. 
    “We all looked at each other and said, ‘where did Emma find this girl?’.  
    “And that’s one of the best things about Emma, she always finds these sort of hidden gems.
    “So many years later, Erin is still scoring important goals and knitting everything together and she’s so versatile.”
    While Chelsea are targeting a fourth consecutive WSL title this term, Aluko believes her old boss will be keen to add a Champions League trophy to her silverware wins.
    Aluko said: “There is no doubt, Emma wants to win the Champions League.
    “That is what has eluded her and she will absolutely want to win it.
    Aluko says Emma Hayes will be eager to lead Chelsea to Champions League gloryCredit: Reuters
    “Evolution is a good word to use for Emma because that is what she is all about. 
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    “She’s not a coach who is going to say, ‘because we won it this way last year, we’re going to do exactly the same thing’. 
    “But the constant is winning, the culture is always about winning.” More

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    Rachel Daly hails Kenza Dali’s efforts as Carla Ward praises result that gives Villa hope of closing gap on top four

    RACHEL DALY praised Kenza Dali’s ‘special talent’ after Aston Villa derailed Manchester City’s title hunt clinching a 1-1 draw.Kirsty Hanson’s first-half-leveller saw the Citizens drop points at home in the league for the second time this season.
    Kirsty Hanson was on target for the visitors who moved up to fifth in the league after a 1-1 draw with Manchester CityCredit: Getty
    Khadija Shaw gave the Citizens an early home lead with her tenth league goal this termCredit: Reuters
    Carla Ward’s side have claimed four points from their two league games against Man City this seasonCredit: Reuters
    City, who have gone 13 games unbeaten across all competitions, are currently five behind WSL leaders Chelsea. 
    But they could end up eight points off the Blues if the league leaders beat Liverpool at home on Sunday. 
    Dali and Hanson, who is on loan from Man United, helped pull the strings in Villa’s attack as they notched up their second win in a row since the start of this year. 
    Of Dali’s display, Daly, who previously played alongside the France playmaker at West Ham, told Sky Sports: “This girl’s a special talent.
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    “She doesn’t quite get the credit that she deserves.
    “We had chemistry before (on the pitch) when we’re at West Ham together straight off the bat and we’ve brought it here.”
    Victory for Villa has seen them go unbeaten against City home and away in a WSL season for the first time since their promotion to the top tier in 2020. 
    They put in an effective counter-attacking display equalising within three minutes of their hosts’ opener.
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    The team are now fifth before their league cup quarters clash with Arsenal on Thursday. 
    Villa boss Carla Ward said: “I don’t think there’s been a game this year where we parked the bus. 
    “If we’re going to shorten the gap (between ourselves and other teams) over the next couple of years, it’s important we continue to play with the style and identity that we set out at the start of the season.
    “To be fair this (performance) will give the girls hope.
    “We have gone out and competed with one of the best teams in the country and possibly dented their Champions League hopes.”
    City got off to a flyer with Khadija Shaw almost capitalising on a Villa error
    The visitors’ goalkeeper Anna Leat gave the ball away in the fourth minute with Chloe Kelly hitting the side netting moments later. 
    And Gareth Taylor’s side took the lead in the 28th minute with Deyna Castellanos poking home after an assist threaded through from Shaw. 
    But the visitors burst their bubble shortly after with Hanson levelling just minutes later, after a looped delivery from Daly. 
    The second spell saw Kerstin Casparij come on for City after an injury to Esme Morgan with Rachel Corsie coming for Danielle Turner.
    And both sides came close to nabbing winners with Hanson thumping the post with a curved effort and Shaw forcing a close range save from Leat in injury time. 
    City boss Taylor said: “Our concentration span was poor for the goal we conceded. 
    Taylor’s side will hope to return to winning ways when they visit Leicester in their next WSL fixture on February 4Credit: Reuters
    “We just couldn’t quite get the symmetry right.
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    “It’s tough (to concede a quick goal). It’s always horrible when that happens.
    “A point is not what we wanted. We wanted three points but I think given the performance, it’s a point that we appreciate.” More

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    Carla Ward backs Nobbs’ push for a Lionesses spot and reflects on Aston Villa’s progress after extending stay as boss

    CARLA WARD is backing Jordan Nobbs to put herself in the frame for a spot in Sarina Wiegman’s England squad.And the Aston Villa boss, who has extended her contract as manager of the club’s WSL side, has not ruled out more January transfer signings.
    Carla Ward’s contract extension will see her remain at Aston Villa’s helm until the end of next seasonCredit: Getty
    Jordan Nobbs impressed Ward on her Villa debut with the player in line to start against Manchester CityCredit: Getty
    Ward, 39, whose team take on Manchester City on Saturday, has seen her side make a winning start to the year following Lucy Staniforth and Nobbs joining their ranks. 
    The experienced midfield duo were both given debuts by Ward last Saturday with the Villans clinching a 2-1 home win against Tottenham. 
    Nobbs’ first turnout in a Villa shirt came just over two months on from her recall to the England squad ahead of Wiegman’s side’s friendly defeat of Japan and draw with Norway.
    However the player was forced to withdraw from the Lionesses squad ahead of those November due to a minor injury. 
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    Ward, who was impressed by Nobbs’ shift on her Villa debut, said: “After her first game, I’ll be honest, I got straight on the phone to Sarina.  
    “I said, ‘You’ve got to be watching our games currently because we’ve got players massively performing and they’re doing well’.”
    Villa’s duel with Man City at 11:30 on Saturday comes two days after the club announced a contract extension for Ward.
    Her new deal will see her remain in charge of the team until the end of the 2023-24 season. 
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    Since taking up the reins after leaving Birmingham City Ward has led her side to a ninth place finish last term. 
    And she has strengthened the depth of her squad this term adding experienced internationals to her ranks. 
    Players include summer signings Rachel Daly, Kenza Dali and Kirsty Hanson (who is on loan from Manchester United)  with Nobbs and Staniforth joining the club this month. 
    On Villa’s progress and the possibility of further signings this month, Ward added: “I’m not sure (of more signings).
    “But the window is always alive and kicking until it closes. I’ll continue to knock on (Villa head of women’s football) Lee Billiard’s door. 
    “Some of the infrastructure we’ve put in place, and some of the bodies we’ve brought in has been key to the success on the pitch.
    “Now it’s about moving forward.”
    Ward’s efforts around development of the team has provided some reward this term. 
    Villa could move up to fifth in the WSL if they defeat Manchester City before Everton’s and West Ham’s clashCredit: Getty
    Her side have reached the knockout stages of the Continental Cup and notched up five wins from their first ten games including a 4-3 defeat of Man City in the league.
    Ward, reflecting on the win, said: “That day I was emotionally drained by the 90th minute. 
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    “It was an unbelievable game of football that I’ve watched back a few times. 
    “I think this one will be very different. Manchester City have progressed massively, as have we.” More

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    UK broadcast outlets reportedly agree deal with Fifa to televise this year’s Women’s World Cup

    AN agreement to air this year’s Women’s World Cup on television in the UK is thought to have been reached, according to reports.  This comes just over six months after the launch of Fifa’s tender process for the sale of tournament media rights to UK broadcasters.  
    A deal to air this year’s Women’s World Cup matches on UK television has reportedly been agreed between Fifa and broadcastersCredit: Reuters
    It is reported the deal could see the BBC and ITV share coverage of the tournament’s games including matches involving the LionessesCredit: Prime Media
    Earlier this week The Independent reported a deal was still outstanding with sources informing the paper that offers from UK channels were “lowballing Fifa”.
    Talks were also said to still be ongoing. 
    Today the Daily Mail reports a “major breakthrough” has been reached in regard to the contest being aired on national television. 
    It is claimed an agreement is expected to be confirmed and publicised in the near future. 
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    And it also thought the deal could potentially see coverage shared by BBC, who along with Sky Sports broadcast Women’s Super League games, and ITV. 
    This year’s World Cup will take place a year after the Euros hosted in England with the Lionesses and their rivals pulling in record stadium crowds and television viewers. 
    Last July’s Euros final, broadcast on BBC One and won by Sarina Wiegman’s players at Wembley, was watched by a peak TV audience of 17.4 million viewers. 
    The viewing figures made it the most watched women’s football match in the history of UK television and the most-viewed TV event of last year. 
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    And in December the FA revealed 23.3million people watched the final on TV or online. 
    Last summer’s Euros attracted record numbers of television viewersCredit: PA
    It is hoped England’s success at last year’s Euros will lead to high numbers of viewers of the World Cup in July and August with the Lionesses and the Republic of Ireland among the 32 sides competing. 
    Due to the time difference between the UK and the World Cup’s hosts Australia and New Zealand, England’s matches will be taking place when many viewers will be asleep or out at work. 
    However, with tournament timing coinciding with the school holidays, coverage of matches could see younger audiences engaged with rising interest in the game amongst girls as well as women. More

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    Arsenal ace Iwabuchi joins Tottenham on loan with club sealing transfer after Bethany England swoop

    TOTTENHAM have signed Mana Iwabuchi from Arsenal with the playmaker switching to the club on a temporary deal. The Japan midfielder, 29, has joined the team for the rest of this season having made three appearances in the top tier so far this term. 
    Mana Iwabuchi has become the second player to sign for Tottenham from a rival London club in the WSL this monthCredit: Getty
    The midfielder could be in line to make her debut for Rehanne Skinner’s side in their upcoming league game against Leicester CityCredit: Getty
    Iwabuchi’s January move follows Spurs’ swoop for Bethany England this month in a bid to boost their attacking threat. 
    The former Chelsea striker wasted no time in proving her scoring capabilities.
    She netted on her debut during her new side’s 2-1 loss to Aston Villa away last time out. 
    Iwabuchi, who will wear Spurs’ number 20 shirt, could be in line to make her first appearance for Rehanne Skinner’s side when they take on Leicester City on Sunday. 
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    Of her temporary switch, the attacking midfielder who began her senior playing career at Japanese side Nippon TV Beleza in 2007, said: “Rehanne told me about the club’s ambitions, so I’m very excited to join this journey.
    “Now I’m a Spurs player I try to do my best.”
    Iwabuchi first moved to the Women’s Super League in December 2020 when she joined Aston Villa from German top-flight side Bayern Munich. 
    During her stint with the Frauen Bundesliga outfit the playmaker won the top tier title in Germany in the 2014-15 season. 
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    At the time the team also included Vivianne Miedema who played for Bayern from 2014 to 2017 prior to her Arsenal move.
    Other current WSL stars who also played for the German giants include Tottenham goalkeeper Tinja-Riika Korpela and midfielder Ramona Petzelberger. 
    In addition to being reunited with the duo, Iwabuchi’s loan will also see her back in the same club squad as her former Villa team-mate Asmita Ale. 
    Iwabuchi, who helped Japan to a memorable World Cup win in 2011, has made 85 senior appearances for her country netting 37 goals. 
    The forward, who is considered to be one of the WSL’s best playmakers, will no doubt be hoping to see more game time for the rest of this season.
    Iwabuchi’s arrival comes in the same month as Bethany England’s transfer to Tottenham from ChelseaCredit: Getty
    So far this term in the top-flight made three appearances from the substitutes bench. 
    Tottenham will hope their move for Iwabuchi will boost their creative flair in the final third with the club hoping to rack up more goals and wins in the league. 
    The team, who finished fifth last term, are currently eighth having lost four of their last five games across all competitions.  More

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    Football stars back Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir after Juventus ace opens up on maternity pay case win against Lyon

    SARA BJORK GUNNARSDOTTIR wants to ensure no players have to go through the ordeal she experienced during her battle with Lyon for back-dated maternity pay. The midfield ace, 32, opened up on the experience which led to her winning a landmark maternity pay ruling.
    Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir won a landmark maternity pay ruling after her case against Lyon was brought before a Fifa tribunalCredit: Reuters
    Gunnarsdottir helped Lyon to win the Champions League in August 2020 when she netted in a 3-1 contest final defeat of WolfsburgCredit: Getty
    The French giants were instructed to pay her back-dated wages plus interest by a Fifa tribunal.
    The club were ordered to pay the player more than £72,188 (€82,094.82). 
    The player made the decision to take her former club and Lyon to the tribunal after receiving only partial salary payments during her pregnancy
    Following the findings of the ruling, which were published on Tuesday, Gunnarsdottir said her case was ‘bigger than herself’. 
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    And she described the outcome as a ‘wake up call for all clubs’. 
    In a post shared via her official Twitter account Gunnarsdottir wrote: “It’s a message to all players that if they get pregnant or want to get pregnant during their career they have their rights and guarantees!”
    The midfielder, who represented Iceland at the Euros, added: “This is not ‘just business’.
    “This is about my rights as a worker, as a woman and as a human being.”
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    Gunnarsdottir, who retired from international football this month, has been publicly backed by a host of top players in the women’s game.
    They include Arsenal and Scotland ace Jen Beattie, USA and OL heroine Megan Rapinoe and Portugal and Benfica forward Jessica Silva.
    In a tweet Rapinoe wrote: “This is utterly disgraceful from@OLfeminin. The culture at OL in France has a long way to go. 
    “Y’all love to talk about how much you support women, but this math is not mathing. I implore you to be the club that is always supporting women, not the club that once did.”
    Gunners heroine Beattie tweeted: “Credit to you @sarabjork18 for speaking out on such an important topic for women in work.”
    In her tweeted message, Silva wrote: “There is still a long long way to go.
    “I’m sad that Sara had to go through this, but I’m very happy to see that she won this fight.
    “All of us will benefit from this in football and any other sports.” 
    In a piece published on The Players’ Tribune website Gunnarsdottir revealed Lyon had stopped paying most of her wages while she was on maternity leave. 
    The Champions League-winning midfielder, who sealed a transfer to Juventus last July, took the club to a Fifa tribunal whilst pregnant with her son Ragnar in a bid to obtain the requisite payments.
    Gunnarsdottir told The Players Tribune she wants to make sure no player has go through what she experienced during her maternity pay caseCredit: Alamy
    Gunnarsdottir, said: “For a while I just had so much else going on.
    “I didn’t have time to think or be concerned about my salaries from the club. 
    “I didn’t have any reason to think anything would go wrong.
    “Until I didn’t get my first paycheck. All that was deposited was just a small percentage from social security.
    “To be fair, there was a lot of logistical stuff to deal with, so I didn’t think too much of it. Probably a clerical error. 
    “But, I checked with the other players just to be sure. They were paid, right on time. 
    “Then I missed another. So I’m like, Hold on. I called (my agent) Dietmar and he wrote to Vincent, the club director. 
    “There was no response, so my agency reached out again. Then, we sent formal letters.
    “When Vincent finally responded, he apologised for two of the months I was missing, and said I would get paid for those. 
    “But for the third month, he says something about how they’re going by French law — meaning, they don’t owe me anything else.
    “I said to Dietmar, ‘No that’s not right, they should be going by the FIFA rules.'”
    Gunnarsdottir sought assistance from professional players’ union Fifpro following partial payments she received from the club.
    The international body helped the former Lyon player with her case which was brought before a Fifa tribunal with the football authority later ruling in her favour.
    “I want to make sure no one has to go through what I went through ever again. Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir
    On Tuesday Fifpro described the ruling as the ‘first of its kind’ in football. 
    In a written statement shared via its Twitter account, the body said:  “FIFPRO congratulates Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir on her successful claim against Lyon over the club’s failure to pay her full salary during pregnancy.
    “We are pleased to have assisted her in achieving the first ruling of its kind since FIFA’s maternity regulations came into force in January 2021.
    “It is extremely important for women footballers and the women’s game that these mandatory maternity regulations are both implemented and enforced at national level.”
    Gunnarsdottir added: “I want to make sure no one has to go through what I went through ever again.
    “And I want Lyon to know this is not O.K.”
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    According to regulations officially agreed by the Fifa Council in 2020 clubs are obliged to give players “14 weeks maternity leave” and “to reintegrate them afterwards and provide adequate medical support.”
    As part of the reforms female players are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave equal to at least two thirds of their contracted salary.  More

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    Women’s World Cup ticket sales exceed half a million mark with more due to go on sale before contest

    MORE than 500,000 tickets have been snapped up by fans for this year’s Women’s World Cup before the tournament’s start in July. And tickets for the August 20 final at Stadium Australia are thought to be attracting the most interest. 
    Surging ticket sales means Australia’s World Cup opener against the Republic of Ireland could be moved to the 83,500-capacity Stadium AustraliaCredit: Getty
    The Republic of Ireland will compete in the Women’s World Cup for the first time in their history this summerCredit: Sportsfile
    England are among the top ten nations with the highest number of buyers of tickets for the tournament this yearCredit: AFP
    Fifa says supporters from more than 120 countries have bought tickets for the contest in Australia and New Zealand with sales passing the half a million mark last week. 
    The tournament, which is being staged for the ninth time, will kick off on July 20 with co-hosts New Zealand and Australia facing Norway and the Republic of Ireland. 
    The Football Ferns will play Norway in their opening game at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
    Meanwhile the Matildas, who are skippered by Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, will take on Vera Pauw’s Republic of Ireland side with their game potentially set for a venue switch due to popular demand for tickets. 
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    Last week the Irish Independent reported their fixture could be moved to the 83,500-seater Stadium Australia. 
    The Republic of Ireland is claimed to be ranking among the top ten nations for ticket buys.
    Their team is set to make history by competing in the tournament for the first time in their 50-year existence. 
    England is also said to be among the nations with the highest number of tickets sold following the Lionesses’ triumph at last summer’s Euros.
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    A record crowd of more than 87,000 people turned out to watch them beat Germany at Wembley in July last year 
    Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said: “Fans residing in the United States of America, England, Qatar, Germany, China, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and France are the top 10 purchasers of Women’s World Cup 2023 tickets so far. 
    “This highlights the fantastic pull of the female game and the passion it evokes among the global football fandom, who want to be part of the tournament.”
    This year’s World Cup is set to be the first one in which a total of 32 nations will compete following the contest expanding from a 24-team competition.
    Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses are among the sides considered to be favourites to go all the way along with co-hosts Australia and four-time World Cup winners the USA.
    Olympic gold medallists Canada and Euros 2022 finalists Germany are also considered among the favourites along with Sweden, Copa America Feminina champs Brazil, Spain and France.
    Bev Priestman’s Canada are among the teams considered to be strong contenders to go far in the tournamentCredit: Getty
    Aside from the Republic of Ireland, this year’s contest will see Morocco, the Philippines, Vietnam and Zambia competing in the contest for the first time. 
    A play-off tournament to decide which nations fill the World Cup’s three vacant group stage spots will take place from February 17-23 in New Zealand. 
    The 10 countries who will battle for those slots are Portugal, Cameroon, Thailand, Chile, Haiti, Senegal, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay and Panama.  More