Women's football faces 'almost existential threat', report says

The coronavirus pandemic presents "an almost existential threat" to women's football, according to a report by global players' union FIFPro published Thursday. Much attention has been given to the economic impact of the suspension on the far richer men's game, but FIFPro warns that women's football -- despite recent growth -- is particularly vulnerable, with less established professional leagues, lower salaries and less investment meaning "the fragility of the women's football eco-system is exposed by the current situation". "The damage a crisis like this can have on an industry which has been growing so well but is still on very fragile feet in many places, can be very drastic," FIFPro's General Secretary, Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, said in a conference call with reporters.