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Steph Houghton Says Women Shouldn't Be On Equal Pay Until They Sell Out Stadiums

Steph Houghton Says Women Shouldn't Be On Equal Pay Until They Sell Out Stadiums

The England side nearly sold out the Riverside and will play in front of 70,000 at Wembley in November but aren't selling out club games.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

England Women's captain Steph Houghton says that women players shouldn't get equal pay to the men until they start selling out stadiums on a regular basis.

Equal pay for women footballers became a big issue during the summer's World Cup, especially due to the US players asking for parity considering their success compared to the nation's men's team.

England captain Houghton believes that, whilst the Lionesses are getting closer to it, they aren't quite there yet. Speaking to Sky News ahead of the Lionesses game with Brazil she said, "We talk about trying to fill out stadiums and we're fortunate enough as an English national team that we can do that now.

"But we have to make sure that fans are in our club stadiums. We don't want to be turning up to Manchester CFA (City's football academy, where the women's team plays) and there are only 1,000 people there."

Saying the players needed to "make sure that when we're on the pitch we're producing the goods so the fans come and watch us," she added, "So then in turn we can be classed as being equal paid but I think we've still got a long way to go.

"We're heading in the right direction but in my opinion I don't think we're right there yet."

Houghton arrives for England vs Brazil. Image: PA Images
Houghton arrives for England vs Brazil. Image: PA Images

England Women reached the semi-final of the World Cup in France in the summer, before being knocked out by eventual winners USA, and there has been a push to capitalise on the momentum from the tournament.

The WSL kicked off during the September international break, meaning no games clashed with Premier League football, and the Manchester derby was played at the Etihad and Chelsea vs Spurs was played at Stamford Bridge, with tickets given out for free.

More than 31,000 watched City vs United. Image: PA Images
More than 31,000 watched City vs United. Image: PA Images

Phil Neville's side nearly sold out Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium for their friendly against Brazil on Saturday afternoon, lost 2-1 to the South Americans, and will next play at home against Germany at Wembley in November, with already 70,000 tickets sold for the match.

They'll be hope that the WSL averages continue go up and that all stadiums are sold out in 2021 when the Women's Euros comes to England.

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Topics: Football News, Phil Neville, Women's Football

Ryan is a writer for SPORTbible. He covers all sport from football, formula one, cricket, rugby, tennis, athletics, mma and wrestling. He obviously hates YOUR football team and has no interest in synchronised swimming.

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