Denmark’s Euro 2024 squad have refused a pay rise to ensure the women’s team receive equal pay.
A new four-year agreement has been reached with the Danish Football Association that will see both male and female national team players receive the same fee for representing their country.
To enable this the men’s team accepted a reduction in insurance coverage as well as refusing a pay increase, global players’ union, FIFPRO, said.
“The men’s team chose not to demand any changes in the conditions in their new agreement,” Michael Sahl Hansen, director of the Danish players’ union, Spillerforeningen, said in a statement published by FIFPRO.
“It’s an extraordinary step to help improve the conditions of the women’s national teams. So, instead of looking for better conditions for themselves, the players thought about supporting the women’s team.”
Senior players were consulted before a deal was struck that will come into effect following this summer’s tournament in Germany and run until 2028.
“When we presented the plan to the negotiations team, which consisted of Andreas Christensen, Thomas Delaney, Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel, they were very happy,” Sahl Hansen said.
“This was what they wanted: it showed that they are taking the responsibility. They liked the idea of providing other national teams with better opportunities and conditions.”
Denmark’s men’s team begin their Euro 2024 campaign against Slovenia on Sunday evening before facing England and Serbia in their remaining Group C fixtures.
(Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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