Large reserves not possible
Oberdorf likes to tease the DFB for equality
01/16/2023 12:02 p.m
The national football players emphasize again and again: Instead of equal pay, they initially demand equality from the DFB. But her performance should be rewarded, says Lena Oberdorf. The 21-year-old, who has been nominated for the world footballer election, is far from having taken care of herself.
National player Lena Oberdorf sees the German Football Association (DFB) on the way to more gender equality in bonuses. “We internationals are now ready to put some stress on the DFB. Of course, we’ve already had a few discussions internally. I think we’ve reached a point where something is happening and changing,” said the 21-year-old from VfL Wolfsburg in an interview with the “Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung”.
The DFB would have paid 60,000 euros per player for a women’s European Championship triumph in England in 2022, and 400,000 euros had been negotiated for the men’s European Championship in 2021 if the title was won. Politicians, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have also called for further steps to be taken against this gender pay gap.
According to Oberdorf, the exorbitant market values and salaries in men’s business should not be used as a benchmark. “The men earn insane sums from TV contracts, jersey sales and sponsorships,” explained the European Vice-Champion, who has also been nominated for FIFA World Player election: “That’s not why we say we want to earn the same. But we want to earn according to our performance.”
Oberdorf can live well from her job, “but I can’t build up large reserves.” She is a full professional and dropped out of her business administration degree, “that wasn’t mine, I can’t do without sport.” With regard to professionalization in this country, there is hope “that it will only take four or five years” until the level of men’s football is reached: “The new TV contract is already a good step in the right direction.”
At the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand (July 20th to August 20th), Oberdorf is aiming for the third star with the DFB selection: “If we build on what we delivered at the European Championship, anything is possible. We still have to Develop a bit further, maybe try different tactical variants – then we could actually go far.”