Former Lioness Karen Carney has addressed the possibility of women's football being the exemption from the current 3pm Saturday blackout.
In a damning report into a review of women's football across elite and grassroot levels, the blackout is one of several calls to grow the game.
According to the former Arsenal, Chelsea and Birmingham City player, women’s football could be a billion-pound industry within 10 years if it gets the right investment now - but Carney accepted there were “pros and cons” of trying to seek an exemption for women’s football from the Saturday afternoon blackout period.
“We need stakeholders to have an adult conversation and say ‘how can we help women’s football?’, she asked following an independent review.
"Women’s football is a start-up business. If you’re starting something you have to have an influx of money. In 10 years’ time I really do believe this sport could be a billion-pound industry.
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“But these standards and these requirements for investment are the foundation that will lead us to that point.
“I really do think we can make that (investment) back.”
Carney said the review’s aim was to introduce minimum standards across all areas of the game, and insisted that even though there were significant cost implications for clubs and the FA in particular, this was not something anyone in the game could afford to ignore.
NICE, FRANCE - JUNE 19: Karen Carney of England is challenged by Jun Endo of Japan during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group D match between Japan and England at Stade de Nice on June 19, 2019 in Nice, France. (Photo by Joosep Martinson - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) (Joosep Martinson - FIFA)Among the key calls in the review to grow the women’s game published a week before the start of the Women’s World Cup are:
- The creation of a fully professional environment in the top two tiers, with a minimum ‘salary floor’ in the Women’s Super League from 2025-26, gold standard physical and mental healthcare provision, a world-leading parental leave package and full union representation.
- A redirecting of some funding from the men’s FA Cup prize pot to support the women’s game.
- Identification of a new strategic partner to invest in improving the talent pathway and academy structure.
- A dedicated broadcast slot – possibly Saturday 3pm, if women’s football can be exempted from the blackout period with the support of the football authorities.
“I have to have every confidence that these recommendations will be implemented and with urgency,” she said.
“This should never, ever sit on the shelf, it’s got to stand for something.
“Do I want players going on the NHS (to get treatment for injuries)? No. Do I want players to be using bin bags for curtains? No I don’t.
“I understand there is going to be a lot of pushback, people saying that it’s a big investment piece, but that’s what is needed now.
“In 2011 when the WSL was launched, I bet the same conversations happened then (with people saying) ‘it’s a lot of money we’ve got to find’.
“Even I thought that at the time. But that has led us to this point, now we’re further along we need to get to the next point.”
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Karen Carney accepts the first Women's Super League Hall of Fame Award of 2022 (Mark Robinson)The independent women’s football review was recommended in the 2021 fan-led review of football governance, and was commissioned by the Government in September last year.
In all the 128-page report, formally titled ‘Raising The Bar: Reframing the opportunity in women’s football’, has produced 10 recommendations, primarily focused on ensuring minimum standards are met on a range of areas.
The review also called on the FA to address a lack of diversity in the game, first by auditing the existing workforce and then by creating a workforce strategy.
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