The sports minister Nigel Huddleston has confirmed that the government will launch an in-depth review of domestic women’s football this summer with the aim of helping it close the gap with the men’s game.
The review will be independently chaired and supported by an expert advisory panel, with the DCMS saying it will look at developing the women’s game at elite and grassroots level. Its focus will also look at commercialisation, spectator support and media interest, publishling its findings by the end of the year.
It follows the Fan led review of football governance, published in November last year by Tracey Crouch MP, which recommended a review of the women’s game. The Government is expected to publish its response to the review, with a focus on the men’s game, soon.
The review comes as the women’s game gears up for a high-profile summer, with England hosting the Euros and the final being held at Wembley. More than 350,000 of the 700,000 tickets available for the tournament had been sold during pre-sales and a public ballot window, which means that the tournament has already past the record of 240,045 tickets sold for Euro 2017 in the Netherlands.
In a statement issued on Saturday evening, Huddleston said: “Women’s football is a growing force. The 2019 World Cup captured the hearts and minds of the nation, and with greater participation, employment and visibility in the media, I am confident that Eueo 2022 will inspire more women and girls to get into our national game as we work towards parity across all sport.
“Despite these positive signs for the game, it is clear that an assessment of the value of the women’s and girl’s game is needed, to ensure it is properly financed for the long-term. The time is right for a thorough review of the women’s game to ensure all is being done to support its further growth.”
The Football Association welcomed the move. An FA spokesperson said: “A review of women’s football was a key outcome of the Fan-Led Review and one that we fully support. We have been working with the government for some time on all of the recommendations from the Review and in particular on the proposals to look into the future of women’s football.
“This new review will support the continued growth and development in women’s and girls’ football, and it will also help to create a great legacy following what promises to be a fantastic summer of women’s football as we host the Uefa Euro 2022 tournament.”
