Call for Evidence - Future of Women's Football Review


Background

One of the recommendations of the Fan Led Review of Football Governance was for Government to undertake a dedicated review into women’s football, so that the unique circumstances and opportunities for the game could be further explored. Following the success of the UEFA Women’s EUROs, DCMS in partnership with the FA has announced a Review into the Future of Women’s Football. The Review, chaired by former Lioness Karen Carney, aims to report on the future direction of the Women's game.


Introduction

We are witnessing history in the making. England’s Lionesses – the newly crowned 2022 European Champions – have changed the course of Women’s Football for ever. This year’s UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 has seen England host Europe’s biggest ever women’s sporting event. The electrifying success of the Lionesses, with world- record viewing figures and matchday attendances, has inspired the whole nation and ensured interest in the women’s game is at an all-time high.


The tournament has built on the ambitions and successes of domestic women’s football, which is the fastest growing sport in the UK. We want the Women’s EUROs to leave a lasting legacy for women and girls' football; from participation in all ages and abilities, to increased attendances across our domestic leagues, to a framework for growth in commercial and broadcasting deals to ensure as many people as possible can be gripped by the women’s game. This Review will support the continued growth and development in women’s and girl’s football, to ensure the women’s game at the elite level has a strong and sustainable future.


Deadline

This call for evidence will be open until Tuesday 1st November 2022.


Terms of Reference

The Review will seek evidence around three key themes:

  1. Audience & Growth
  2. Commercial & Broadcasting
  3. Structures & Governance


These three key themes have been broken down into six sub-themes to help steer the direction of the Review. Expert stakeholders will then be invited to join workshops to discuss these themes in more depth and provide further evidence. The Chair will then provide recommendations in a full report to the Secretary of State for DCMS.


Objectives

The FWF Review will:

  1. Assess the potential audience reach and growth of the game by considering the value and visibility of women’s and girl’s football in England, including the potential to grow the fanbase for women’s football for the future of the game and whether current growth still supports home-grown talent and can be achieved without overstretching infrastructure.
  2. Examine the financial health of the game, its financial sustainability for the long-term including exploring commercial opportunities and ways to support the commercialisation of the women’s game; broadcast revenue opportunities; and the sponsorship of women’s football.
  3. Examine the structures within women’s football, including affiliation with men’s teams, prize money, the need for women’s football to adhere to the administrative requirements of the men’s game; assess the adequacy, quality, accessibility, and prevalence of the facilities available for women’s and girl’s football for the future growth and sustainability of the game.


Responding to The Call for Evidence

We recommend you read this document in full before submitting your response. We have grouped the questions below according to the three themes outlined above. You can answer as many of them as are of interest and relevance to you or your organisation. Please provide as much evidence, based on credible data or verifiable qualitative information (such as examples and case studies), as you can to support your submission. If you wish to attach supporting evidence such as documents and files, you will find an option to do so at the end of the questionnaire on the right-hand side of the screen in Section 4, under the section ‘Supporting Evidence’.


If you are unable to submit evidence through our online portal, or prefer to send it by post, please use the address provided below. Please note that evidence sent via post might not be able to be returned.


Public Affairs Office

Wembley Stadium,

PO Box 1966,

London,

SW1P 9EQ


Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this consultation, please contact either the FA or DCMS using the details below and include the words ‘Call for Evidence FWF - Your Name’ as your email subject.


The FA - womensreview@thefa.com

DCMS - womensfootballreview@dcms.gov.uk


Next Steps

We consider that the Future of Women’s Football Review is a unique opportunity to develop an exciting and deliverable vision for the game, paving the way for generations of girls to come. We thank you for your engagement and input – your contribution is hugely valuable to us.


Data Protection

The Information you provide in response to this call for evidence, including personal information (where you have chosen not to remain anonymous), may be shared with our partners for this Review, DCMS. We will process any personal information provided in response to this call for evidence in accordance with the requirements of applicable data protection laws.


You should be aware that any information shared with DCMS may be subject to publication or disclosure in accordance with the access to information regimes primarily the Freedom of Information Act 2000), to which DCMS is subject. For more information on how your data is used and your rights under data protection laws, please see The FA’s Privacy Policy.

(1) Personal Information

Select
Caret IconCaret symbol
Phone
I want my answers to remain anonymous.*
Are you responding as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?*
Are you affiliated with a club?*

(2) Future of Women’s Football Key Questions

Please provide your thoughts on the following six topics. These are areas where we are particularly keen to receive evidence. If there are other areas you believe we have missed, or do not highlight sufficiently, please draw them to our attention in your comments. You will also find the option to attach any supporting evidence at the bottom of this page.

With the growing strength of the Barclay’s Women’s Super League, more overseas players are adding quality and excitement to England’s domestic game. Offering an elite-level professional environment is crucial to the continued development of these athletes.


  • What is the correct balance to ensure the next generation of English women and girls thrive?
  • What can be done to strengthen the talent pool across the game and ensure it reflects the cultural diversity of our society?
  • What more could be done at a grassroots level and within schools and the education system to ensure girls get a greater level of access to football?
  • Player's physical and mental welfare should be a priority. How can access and quality of medical care be improved?


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

The UEFA Women’s EUROs delivered record-breaking crowds unlike any women’s football tournament before. We want this interest and excitement to translate into greater matchday attendances across the women’s pyramid.


  • How can we grow the fanbase and increase matchday attendance? How can the spectator experience be improved and made accessible to all, while maintaining fan safety as a priority?


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

23.3 million peak viewers tuned in across broadcast and streaming services to watch the England v Germany EUROs Final in July. As interest in the game skyrockets, it is crucial we get the balance right between promoting visibility and making Women’s Football financially viable.


  • How can we grow the commercial interest in the game, whilst making Women’s football accessible to all? (You might want to think about broadcasting and streaming services, what the optimal broadcasting slots for Women's Football might look like, prize money, use of Men’s stadia, current competition formats etc.)


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

Women’s football is the fastest growing sport in the UK. To sustain this growth, we need to consider what financial structures and mechanisms can be put in place to ensure the long-term financial viability of Women’s Football across the pyramid.


  • Please share your thoughts on how financial sustainability might be achieved. (You might want to consider issues such as salary inflation, support from Men’s clubs etc.)


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

The number of girls playing football is growing year on year, and the professionalisation and visibility of the Lionesses and domestic leagues is inspiring our next generation to get involved at all levels of the game.


  • How can facilities and stadia be maximised to encourage the participation and access of women and girls, and enhance the elite performance environment at a professional level?
  • What facilities and infrastructure are needed to increase participation levels in schools, clubs and the wider community?


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

Clubs are the beating heart of Women’s Football across the country. Making sure clubs are diverse, financially stable and well-managed is key to the long-term sustainability of the game.


  • Are the current governance structures in the Women's game fit for purpose? (You may want to consider issues such as accountability, equality, diversity and inclusion)


Please limit your response to approximately 500 words.

(3) Supporting Evidence

You may also submit supporting documentation as part of your evidence. Please click ‘yes’ below to attach documents you would like to provide to the Review.

Supporting evidence*

Attach document(s) below.


Contact Information

If you have any questions regarding this consultation, please contact either the FA or DCMS using the details below and include the words ‘Call for Evidence FWF - Your Name’ as your email subject.


The FA - womensreview@thefa.com

DCMS - womensfootballreview@dcms.gov.uk

Drag and drop files here or

(4) Submission

Before submitting your contribution, please look through your answers and ensure that all the information you have provided is accurate.


You will not be able to edit your answers once you click the ‘submit’ button.


If you are happy to proceed, please carefully read the statements below, tick appropriately and finish by pressing ‘submit’ below.

Powered by Smartsheet Modern Logo On Light
Privacy Notice|Report Abuse
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.