Lionesses to be handed record £1.7m bonus package if they win Euro 2025
The FA has agreed a record bonus package with England's Lionesses worth up to £1.7million if they defend their European Championship title this summer.
The Guardian revealed in March that negotiations over the players' bonuses had reached an impasse, risking a repeat of the stand-off that disrupted their preparations for the 2023 World Cup, but the discussions have now concluded with Sarina Weigman's squad believed to be happy with the outcome.
The FA is understood to have increased their offer, with the £1.7m bonus pot more than double the amount the players received for reaching the World Cup final in Australia two years ago. While the precise amount paid to each player will depend on appearances and minutes played, the average bonus on offer if England win the tournament is around £73,000, more than £18,000 more than they received following their historic triumph at Wembley three years ago.
A source involved in the process told The Guardian that while the negotiations had been difficult all parties were satisfied with the end result, particularly the fact that it was resolved before the squad met up at St George's Park to begin their European Championship preparations this week. The squad meet-up has been somewhat overshadowed by the shock announcement of Mary Earps' international retirement, with the FA relieved that another potential distraction in bonus talks has been removed.
A dispute about bonuses interrupted the Lionesses' preparations for the World Cup two years ago with the FA initially reluctant to offer performance-related payments after Fifa introduced individual player fees for the first time.
The FA eventually agreed to pay bonuses, although the matter was only resolved the month after they returned from the tournament, where Weigman's side were beaten 1-0 in the final by Spain. The governing body will also cash in if England have a successful tournament this summer as Uefa has more than doubled the prize money made available to the 16 competing nations to £34m, with the winners to receive £4.3m.
The FA equalised match fees for the men's and women's national teams five years ago with all senior England players receiving about £2,000 a game which in most cases are donated to charities, but bonus payments remain far apart due to the differing levels of prize money on offer in men's and women's tournaments. Gareth Southgate's squad would have shared a bonus pot of about £14m for example, had they won last summer's European Championship final against Spain.
England begin their Euro 2025 build-up with a Uefa Nations League game against Portugal at Wembley on Friday before facing Spain in Barcelona next week. After a friendly against Jamaica in Leicester at the end of next month Weigman's side start the defence of the European title with a difficult game against France on 5 July before further group games against the Netherlands and Wales.
Sign up to Moving the Goalposts
No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football
after newsletter promotion
The FA declined to comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times
9 minutes ago
- Times
KPMG fined over partner error in Carr's audit
KPMG has been fined just shy of £700,000 for not realising that a senior partner at another firm had been working on the audit of a subsidiary of Carr's, the agriculture and engineering company, for a year too long. The Financial Reporting Council determined that KPMG, as Carr's main auditor, was wrong to rely on the work of another audit firm responsible for signing off the 2021 accounts of the subsidiary because the lead partner had held that role for six years, one more than is permitted. The FRC did not name the other firm, but Companies House filings show Mitchell Charlesworth, a small accountancy group based in the northwest of England, audited the 2021 accounts of Carr's Billington Agriculture (Operations), a manufacturer and supplier of animal feed. Mitchell Charlesworth also provided tax and accountancy services to Carrs Billington Agriculture, which was another reason why KPMG should not have signed off on the group accounts. The regulator, in a 35-page report, said that KPMG had failed to 'ensure compliance with applicable independence requirements'. Lead audit partners, also known as audit engagement partners, are required to rotate every five years to prevent them from becoming too chummy with the management. Audit firms are also limited on how much non-audit work they can do for clients for fear that it might influence their decision-making. Carr's traces its roots to 1831 and a flour mill opened by Jonathan Carr to supply his Table Water biscuit factory. In 1908, the flour-milling assets were spun off into what is now Carr's Group. Carr's 2022 accounts were delayed for several months because Grant Thornton, which took over from KPMG, felt that, owing to 'independence reasons', it could not rely on the work of the auditor of one of Carr's subsidiaries. Jamie Symington, deputy executive counsel at the FRC, said KPMG's breaches were 'serious', even though the quality of KPMG's audit work was 'not brought into question'. KPMG was initially fined £1.25 million, but this was cut to £690,625 because of its 'exceptional cooperation during the investigation'. It has also paid the FRC's investigation costs of £219,755. Nick Plumb, who was KPMG's lead partner on the Carr's audits, was fined £70,000, which was cut to £38,675. Plumb, 59, retired from the KPMG partnership in 2022. The fine money goes to the Department for Business and Trade. Symington said KPMG's failings were 'basic and fundamental', adding: 'It is of fundamental importance that when seeking to rely on the work of a component auditor, the group audit firm can be satisfied that its independence is not compromised as a result of conditions that would compromise the independence of another firm on whose work it relies.' 'We accept that we did not meet the required standards in this instance,' Cath Burnet, head of audit at KPMG UK, said.
Daily Mail
15 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Warhammer maker Games Workshop to reward staff with £20MILLION payout
Games Workshop is handing its employees £20million following another bumper year for the beloved tabletop games maker. The Warhammer creator, which has struck a deal to have its creations star in potential TV and film blockbusters for Amazon, said the cash payments would be given on 'an equal basis' to every staff member. Games Workshop's shares have soared in recent years and it joined the UK's leading FTSE 100 stock market index for the first time last December. The £20million payout represents an increase on the £18million awarded last year and £11million the year before that. It comes as Games Workshop forecast sales to soar to at least £560million for the year ending 1 June, up from £494.7million in the previous 12 months. British actor and Superman star Henry Cavill, a self-declared lifelong fan of the figures, will star in and produce a Warhammer 40,000 series with Amazon Prime and Games Workshop. Last December, Cavill posted on Instagram: 'To celebrate some Warhammer news, I decided to make a pilgrimage to the very first place I bought Warhammer models over 30 years Little Shop, on my home island of Jersey! 'My incredible team and I, alongside the brilliant minds at Games Workshop, have been working away in concept rooms, breaking down approaches to the enormity and magnificence of the Warhammer world. 'Together, we've been sifting through the plethora of incredible characters and poring over old tomes and texts. 'Our combined efforts have led us to a fantastic place to start our Universe, which has been agreed upon by those up on high at both Amazon and Games Workshop. That starting place shall, for now, remain a secret.' Games Workshop said today that it expects to achieve record licensing sales of about £50million, although the company does not envision repeating that figure in the next financial year. Alongside this, the business believes its core operating profits and pre-tax profits will total no less than £210million and £255million, respectively. Two months ago, Games Workshop upgraded its earnings forecast thanks to strong trading across licensing and its core operations. This followed the firm's best-ever first-half result, with sales buoyed by record retail sales in the UK, North America and Continental Europe. Revenues were further boosted by the release of video game Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, which sold two million copies on the opening day of its launch and five million by the end of November. During the half-year period, Games Workshop agreed 'creative guidelines' with Amazon to adapt Warhammer 40,000 into films and television shows. In addition, the company entered the blue-chip FTSE 100 after enjoying nearly a decade of consistent growth under its chief executive, Kevin Rountree. During his tenure, Games Workshop has improved its relationship with fans and introduced games with more simplified rules, including Blood Bowl, a parody of American football. Its revenues benefited considerably from the Covid-19 pandemic, when consumers sought new indoor hobbies to occupy their time. Although lockdown curbs eventually ended, the firm's trade has continued expanding, and its market value now stands at almost £5billion. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: 'Games Workshop has a rock-solid core business, underpinned by an army of fans emerged in its fantasy worlds who collect miniature figures and play its board games. 'This success has enabled the company to build a rich library of intellectual property that is now the platform for additional revenue generation. 'Licencing the rights to certain brands and characters is easy money, but Games Workshop is fiercely protective of its assets and won't let anyone come along and milk them.' Despite the optimistic forecasts, Games Workshop shares were 4.5 per cent lower at 15,150p on Friday morning, making them the Footsie's biggest faller.
Daily Mail
16 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Meet the Club World Cup WAGs: Maya Jama and Co will be cheering on their partners during FIFA's new tournament - but not all of them are set to travel to the United States
The Club World Cup will get underway when Al Ahly take on hosts Inter Miami in the early hours of Sunday morning UK time. In the first 32-team format of the competition, the winner will walk away with a whopping $125m (£91.89m), with $1bn (£735m) of prize money being distributed to the 32 participating clubs, according to FIFA. Two teams from England - Chelsea and Manchester City - will be competing against the very best from around the globe including Real Madrid and recent Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain. Elsewhere, Lionel Messi 's Inter Miami will be involved from North America, while clubs from the likes of Asia, Africa and South America will also feature. A total of 12 stadiums from across the USA will host the clash of the world's best sides. A number of their players will have their wives and girlfriends in attendance but others are not due to travel to the tournament to support their partners. So who are the WAGs of Club World Cup stars? Maya Jama - girlfriend of Ruben Dias Maya Jama and Ruben Dias have reportedly been dating each other for the last few months. Ruben Dias, who joined Manchester City in 2020 for around £57m, was previously with Portuguese singer April Ivy. Jama shared their recent trip to the Amalfi Coast on her Instagram where the pair enjoyed the luxury of the Italian coastline. The Love Island presenter and TV personality, 30, has been spotted at City's games since starting a relationship with Dias but, despite being being in the honeymoon phase of their relationship, Jama will not be supporting her boyfriend at the Club World Cup. Jama is currently hosting the new series of Love Island in Mallorca, but will be cheering on her beau from afar. Isabel Haugseng Johansen – girlfriend of Erling Haaland Another partner who will not be present at the tournament is Erling Haaland's girlfriend Isabel Haugseng Johansen. The Norwegian has been winning on-and-off the pitch as him and Haugseng Johansen welcomed their first baby in December 2024. She will be at home with the baby, rooting for the striker from across the pond as Manchester City aim to finish an underwhelming campaign with a trophy. Connie Grace – girlfriend of Cole Palmer Former Manchester City player Cole Palmer will be competing in a darker shade of blue in the Club World Cup with Chelsea as his girlfriend Connie Grace supports him from the stands. Manchester through and through, the 23-year-old runs a nail salon in the city as well as being an influencer. A private couple, the pair first met through mutual friends when they were 17, as Connie revealed on the Amazon Prime documentary 'England's Lions: A New Generation'. She said: 'Cole now is still the same Cole that I met when I was 17. Obviously, he's changed, he's grown up, and his life now is completely different, but he's still the same boy, he's still laid-back Cole. Cole will adapt to whatever situation he's in.' Aine May Kennedy – girlfriend of Conor Gallagher Compatriot and former Chelsea team-mate Conor Gallagher will be featuring at the tournament for Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. He could be supported by Irish model girlfriend Aine May Kennedy who both saw and met Ed Sheeran at his concert at Atletico Madrid's Wanda Metropolitano. The duo have been together since they were teenagers with Kennedy making the move with Gallagher to the Spanish capital at the start of the 2024-25 season. Ashlyn Castro – girlfriend of Jude Bellingham Another Englishman living in Madrid, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham is shacked up with American influencer and model Ashlyn Castro. Castro has previously dated US basketball colossus Terance Mann and has also been linked to A-listers such as Michael B. Jordan. The 27-year-old has been seen numerous times cheering her man on at the Bernabeu alongside Bellingham's Mum Denise and was also in the stands for England's drab 1-0 win over Andorra in Barcelona last week. Gabriely Miranda – wife of Endrick Teenage Brazilian star Endrick shares the pitch with Bellingham and will feature under Xabi Alonso for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup. His partner Gabriely Miranda will also likely be there as the she graces the United States. The 23-year-old model is five years Endrick's senior, but the two are very serious about their relationship with a reported husband and wife contract where they must say 'I love you' no matter the situation, according to The Sun. Antonela Roccuzzo – wife of Lionel Messi Once a wonderkid now arguably the greatest player of all-time, Lionel Messi's Inter Miami will be hosting the Club World Cup and his childhood sweetheart Antonela Roccuzzo will be there to watch it all. Mother to Thiago, 12, Mateo, 9 and Ciro, 7, the 37-year-old has been there every step of the way during the Argentine's career. Roccuzzo has embraced the American lifestyle after years in Europe and will be cheering her husband on as he aims to add to his illustrious career. Sofia Balbi – wife of Luis Suarez Inter Miami team-mate Luis Suarez followed in Messi's footsteps to Miami in January 2024 after a long stint in Spain with this wife Sofia Balbi accompanying him. The 34-year-old has known Suarez since they were teenagers, coming from very different backgrounds due to her affluent upbringing. The pair have gone from strength to strength and have three children: Delfina, Benjamin and Lautaro. Catherine Harding – wife of Jorginho Changing the red and white of Arsenal for the red and black of Flamengo, Jorginho will likely be making his debut for the Brazilian side during the tournament. Jorginho and his wife Catherin Harding got married in Italy just two weeks before the start of the World Cup as they brace for a new life in South America. Singer Harding has a child with actor Jude Law from her previous relationship but rose to prominence in the footballing world following Amazon Prime's 'Married to the Game' series. The couple got married in Italy just two weeks before the start of the World Cup as they brace for a new life in South America Singer Harding has a child with actor Jude Law from her previous relationship but rose to prominence in the footballing world Marc Cucurella has enjoyed his best season in a Chelsea shirt in the 2024-25 campaign and will be looking to claim another trophy in the Club World Cup Claudia Rodriguez – wife of Marc Cucurella Euro 2024 winner Marc Cucurella has enjoyed his best season in a Chelsea shirt in the 2024-25 campaign and will be looking to claim another trophy in the Club World Cup. Wife Claudia Rodriguez could be flying over to the USA to back her husband, the couple parents to three kids. The Spaniard's social media reflects her love for London, often jetting to various countries around the world when she has the time.
