China's ace striker Ma Xiaoxu and her fellow national team-mates
have been the shining lights of international women's football this
year. However, off the field, they continue to battle a gloomy life
of poverty overshadowed by their wealthy male counterparts.
Ma claimed the two most prestigious individual honours at the
FIFA Under-20 Women's World Championship in Russia last month
including the Golden Ball and the Golden Shoe. The 18-year-old
inspired China to win an unexpected silver medal with five goals
and two assists. Ma and team-mate Han Duan, have both been
nominated for this year's FIFA Women Player of the Year award.
Last week, the Asian Football Confederation also nominated Ma
for the region's Women Player of the Year, as well as the candidate
for best Youth Player. This is an award usually bestowed upon male
players.
Unfortunately, the impressive personal performances and team
achievements are not enough to financially reward the women
stars.
Ma made headlines this month after she refused to accept a
1,500-yuan-per-month (US$187) offer from her club Dalian Shide. She
reportedly wanted at least 3,000 yuan (US$375) a month.
The top US national women team's players are paid US$5,800 a
month plus bonuses if they win tournaments.
Ma's payment row highlighted the low living conditions of
China's top female footballers, who are hoping to win nation's
first eve Women's World Cup next year on home soil.
Ma became one of the world's biggest stars after Sun Wen's
retirement, and spearheaded China's U-17 team into the 2004 World
Championship final. The striker also played a core role in China's
two top podium finishes at the Asian Youth Championships and Asian
Cup.
But despite the international glory, club payments are only a
fraction of the male salaries.
The average male club player makes hundreds of thousands of yuan
annually, even though the men have been under constant criticism
for their lacklustre international performances, match-fixing and
gambling since going professional 12 years ago
"Actually, Ma's income is more than many other women's players.
Last year, it was 500 yuan. 1,500 is the top income at her age in
China," Zhang Jianqiang, director of women's football department of
China Football Association told reporter from Southern Weekly.
Yue Min, another key player in Russia's tournament, is a member
of a club in China's second division league and her monthly income
is 200 yuan (US$25), also the most in the club. "Coach gave me some
money to buy some sunscreen to protect my skin. Other teammates
only get 100 yuan (US$12.5)," Yue said.
No marketing, no money
China's women's football reached its peak in 1999 when the
national team won world titles, and players, such as Sun and Gao
Hong gained international fame with their sophisticated techniques
and professionalism.
They took home the silver medal in the 1996 Olympics and scored
second place in the 1999 World Cup. Sun was crowned FIFA Women's
Player of the 20th Century in 2000. The player was paid about 1,000
yuan (US$125) monthly on the Chinese national team before joining
the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) in the US.
Sun's and Gao's achievements injected life and money into the
women's market and the budding women's league drew increasing
attention from fans and sponsors. But things have changed since the
retirement of this golden generation.
The stadium was almost empty at last month's National Women's
Football Championships and most spectators were players and coaches
on the bench.
"The organizers did not think about the ticket sales. There are
rarely people coming to watch the competition even if we offer free
tickets," an official from the hosting stadium was quoted as
saying.
Even the international matches failed to arouse any interests of
fans. According to Tianjin Jin Wan Bao newspaper, the May's
friendly between China and DPRK in Tianjin sold less than 100
tickets, producing an embarrassing income of 300 yuan (US$37).
At the end of September, Tianjin hosted the South-North Star
Challenge and chose to deliver ticket free of charge, only to see
less than 1,000 people come to the stadium.
"If a company wants to sponsor a women's team, it will choose an
agency to have a marketing investigation," Zhang said.
"The feedback is zero and there will be no return after
investing money on women's football. That is the truth.
"As an industry, the further development is from three segments
- player transfers, broadcasting and tickets. But women's football
has none of the three factors. So it is difficult to manage a
club," said Cai Wei, manager of Jiangsu club.
(China Daily October 17, 2006)