The Executive Committee of the French Football Federation has published the referee fees for the 2018-2019 season. The gap between men's and women's football is growing day-by-day. Despite the campaigns for the promotion of women's refereeing, the FFF is showing little consideration and respect for female referees.
A male referee in Ligue 1 earns 2290 € per match, while a female referee in the women’s Division 1, which counts the best women’s team in Europe, Olympique Lyonnais, only gets paid 210 €. A difference of 2080 €! This is just enough to cover the costs of logistics (train, plane, hotel, gas) for female referees. It is a scandal at a time when the Federation is constantly promoting women's football, but continues to ignore its female referees. Stephanie Frappart, the flagship of the women's refereeing and who works Ligue 2 matches, represented France at the Women’s Euro 2017 where she was appointed to the semi-final Netherlands - England. She also recently refereed the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup final between Spain and Japan.
Assistant referees are also considered as a by-product of refereeing in France. For example, Assistant Referees F1 receive 1173 € less than their referee colleagues. Worse still, the referees belonging to the categories F3 and F4 are paid 532 € and 282 € respectively per match. An Assistant Referee F3 receives an allowance of 234 €, which is more than the referee of a female D1 match. A total aberration. The FFF has also communicated the fees that will be received by the referees F1, F2 and the 10 specialized video assistant referees appointed as VARs for the current season. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will receive an allowance of 615 €, while the Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR) will be paid up to 270 €.
Source: Arbitrage57