Coronavirus will not affect $1bn investment in women’s game – Fifa

The women’s game is enjoying a surge in popularity with last year’s Women’s World Cup watched by a record-breaking 1.12bn viewers.

Fifa also confirmed that the women’s game would be part of any package to help the sport cope with losses incurred due to coronavirus.

“Women’s football is being fully considered as part of this process in order to understand the various needs and impact on stakeholders within the women’s game,” the spokesperson added.

“Fifa is currently working on possibilities to provide assistance to the football community around the world, including women’s football. The exact format and details of this assistance are currently being discussed in consultation with Fifa’s member associations, the confederations and other stakeholders.

“As part of these discussions, Fifa is in close contact with key women’s football stakeholders via the Professional Women’s Football Task Force and the Fifa-Confederations sub-working group on the impacts of Covid-19.”

Speaking to BBC World Service’s Sportsworld on Saturday, former women’s Ballon d’Or winner and 2019 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year Ada Hegerberg said: “Everything is so uncertain at the moment and we worry about our sport, especially as a women’s player.”

The 24-year-old Norwegian, who plays with French side Lyon , added: “I understand that the men’s football is the top subject obviously, but you cannot forget the place of women’s football in this.

“Hopefully everything will get back in place and women’s football continues its development and we won’t lose position. It is a difficult situation for all of us.”