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Norway has always been a country that places a lot of importance on equality and the country's national soccer team recently made headlines for a move that will ensure that the Scandinavian country will secure it's reputation.
In an unprecedented deal between Norway’s football association and the country’s international players, male football players in Norway will contribute a portion of their commercial earnings to their female counterparts to make sure that male and female players are paid equally.
Currently, male players earn a total of 6.55 million kroner ($1.035 million), while women get just 3.1 million kroner ($490,000) per year. Starting next year, the men will donate 550,000 kroner each year to the women, so each team receives the same.
“We are very pleased with the outcome of the negotiations for a new agreement for the national teams,” Joachim Walltin, head of the country’s players’ union said. “The agreement is probably unique internationally. It is very positive that Norway is a pioneer country in this way.”
Writing on Instagram, national team winger Caroline Graham thanked her male colleagues for their donation. “Thank you for making this step for female athletes. For showing equality and helping us all, making it a bit easier, to chase our dreams,” she wrote.
Players across Norway welcomed the new deal and hope that it will also spread to other countries.
"Thank you for making this step for female athletes. For showing equality and helping us all, making it a bit easier, to chase our dreams,” national team winger Caroline Graham Hansen wrote on Instagram.
With Norway paving the way for gender equality in sports, it shoudn't take long for others to follow suit.
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