Spain’s women’s soccer league players have ended a brief strike after reaching an agreement with the league on Thursday.
Players’ union FUTPRO successfully negotiated for a minimum wage increase to 21,000 euros ($22,500 USD) for this season, and 23,500 euros ($25,200) by 2025. Last weekend’s games were not played due to the strike, but the next set of matches will continue on schedule.
Previously, the minimum salary for women’s league players was 16,000 euros ($17,100), compared to 182,000 euros ($195,000) for the men’s league.
In their announcement, FUTPRO stated the pay raise was only the first step in a more wide-reaching agreement.
“Now it is time to work to advance in such important points as maternity, harassment protocol, compensation list and others that we consider equally important for the correct development of the activity of our soccer players,” the announcement said.
The strike announcement last week coincided with the ongoing FIFA disciplinary case against Luis Rubiales for kissing a national team player on the lips without her consent at the WWC finale, with FUTPRO representing the player. After weeks of outrage and discussion and declaring he would not back down, Rubiales resigned as president of the Spanish soccer federation on Sunday, and is expected to appear in court on charges of sexual assault and coercion.
