On Monday, the UK government announced its support for the recommendations outlined in the review of domestic women’s football by former England international Karen Carney.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer referred to it as a “defining moment” for women’s football.
Carney’s July review presented 10 recommendations, including the transformation of the Women’s Super League and Championship into fully professional environments and the establishment of a dedicated broadcast slot for women’s soccer.
The government’s endorsement signals a commitment to advancing the professionalisation and visibility of women’s football in the country.
“Our attention will be on making them a reality and holding the football industry to account for their success,” the government said of the recommendations.
The government will also set up an implementation group for the review’s recommendations, consisting of the FA, incoming women’s football governing body NewCo and other stakeholders.
Frazer said she was confident the measures could propel the women’s game even further and set the “standard for women’s sport as a whole.”
“We are completely committed to delivering equal access to sport for girls in schools, alongside an unprecedented £400 million ($507 million) investment in grassroots facilities,” she said in a statement.
The UK government announced a £30 million investment in collaboration with the FA to construct approximately 30 new 3G pitches and facilities, with a primary focus on women’s and girls’ teams.
Karen Carney, a former Arsenal and Chelsea player, characterised the government’s additional investment and support as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform domestic women’s football for generations to come.”
This initiative reflects a commitment to enhancing the infrastructure and resources available for women’s football, aiming to create lasting positive impacts on the sport at the grassroots level.
“The real work begins now,” she added.
