Häcken Slams UEFA Over Prize Money Disparity in Women's Football

Swedish club Häcken has sharply criticized UEFA for the stark financial inequities in prize money between men's and women's European football competitions. Marcus Jodin, Häcken's club manager, denounced UEFA's allocation of only 2.5% of total prize funds to women's football as an insult, emphasizing the club's struggle to sustain their women's team financially despite their success in the Europa League.

Häcken's men's team received approximately 36 million kronor just for qualifying for the Conference League, while the women's team faces the prospect of incurring losses even as they compete to win the Europa League. For reaching the round of 16, Häcken's women's team is set to receive around 770,000 kronor, a sum Jodin noted is vastly overshadowed by the men's earnings. The club has managed to keep costs manageable for the current round through normal flights and accommodations, yet advancing further could force them to choose between competitive performance and financial sustainability.

Jodin underscored that although women's football is the fastest growing segment of the sport, UEFA's financial support remains woefully insufficient. He also expressed skepticism that prize money parity with the men's game will be achieved within his lifetime.

This criticism comes amid historic developments in women's football, such as Fridolina Rolfö's Manchester United playing their first women's Champions League match at Old Trafford on November 12, 2025. Yet, despite symbolic advances, the financial gulf endures, highlighting ongoing challenges for equality in the sport.

The situation at Häcken exemplifies the broader issue within European women’s football, where the ambitions of clubs and players are hampered by imbalanced reward structures. UEFA's current approach raises pressing questions about its responsibility and future policy toward the equitable growth of women's football in Europe.