The FA have announced a ‘significant increase’ in prize money for the Women’s FA Cup will be put in place ahead of the 2022/23 season.
The winners of the women’s competition currently receive £25,000, while their male counterparts pocket £1.8m.
Protests against the disparity in prize money are scheduled to take place at Women’s FA Cup fourth round fixtures this weekend, having been organised by the Women’s Football Fan Collective.
A statement from the FA read: “The FA has had a clear plan for women’s football that has seen it become one of the biggest successes across sport in our country. The growth at all levels has been game changing and we’re incredibly proud of the progress that we have led.
“The Vitality Women’s FA Cup’s significant development over the last few years is just one example of this growth. Whilst the competition doesn’t yet drive commercial revenue to fund prize money growth, The FA Board has agreed a significant increase in prize money to support the competition’s continued development.
“More details are to be announced in due course and the additional prize money will come into effect from the 2022/23 season.”
Currently, the entire FA Cup prize pot in the women’s game is trumped by what the winners in the second round proper in the men’s game receive – a figure of £34,000.
This has resulted in many teams being left out of pocket despite progressing in the competition.
During the 2021/22 season Clapton Community FC were forced to set up a fundraising page after reaching the third round, because the prize money received did not cover their travel expenses for their tie away to Plymouth.