Identifying Best Practice in Women's Football - FIFA/CIES ...

Turbine Potsdam, 350, lending opportunity for future growth from the community, not justbusiness interest through sponsorship. 129"It is apparent how women’s only clubs have taken ownership of their owndevelopment, but teams under the ownership of men’s clubs have also taken steps to becomesomething beyond a corporate social responsibility project. These clubs have seen thestability of financing from a men’s club as an opportunity to take ownership of its owndevelopment through pro-activity as well as putting proper safeguards in place to ensure itsfuture. It is no surprise with a history of clubs like Fulham and Charlton Athletic, who madebig promises to women’s football and then reneged, the English FA has required a change ofstructure for clubs entering the Super League in 2011. Each club will be required to make thewomen’s team a legal subsidiary. Since the English FA will be funding an estimated 43% ofthe annual budget, according to their expenditure model, they see this structure is imperativeto maintain transparency from the clubs, and ensure the money will be used solely for thewomen’s team. 130 Similarly, although not a legal subsidiary, the women’s team of BayernMunich has “complete autonomy” with the exception of final approval on major decisions bythe Bayern Munich board, according to the women’s team coordinator. 131 This also givesthose who are knowledgeable concerning women’s football specific issues, ownership tomake decisions on all aspects of the team.These finance and ownership structures are the most common, however there is anadditional interesting point in women’s football, which could be expanded or developedfurther. Within the theme of financial sustainability, the EFD has created an economiclicense. In addition to protecting clubs from incurring excessive debt, it also has measures inplace to help put ‘first aid’ plans in effect to assist clubs who might have financialdifficulty. 132 This appears to be the only one of its kind within European women’s football,and something in development on the men’s side, a possible solution to deal with the recentincrease in expenditures within the women’s game.""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""129 Jasinski, Interview, 21, May 2010; FFC Turbine Potsdam (2010) Official Website [WWW]. Available from:http://www.turbineadler.de/ [Accessed 01/06/2010]130 Super League (2010) Club Income and Expenditure Model document [WWW]. Available from:http://www.thefa.com/~/media/4009491184C44423BB133A9719951A62.ashx?dl=1 [Accessed 15/06/2010].131 Karen Danner, Women's Coordinator, Bayern München, interview by Sarah Crumbach and Sarah Schmitter,phone interview, 29, March 2010.132 Wijkström, Interview, 21, May 2010.%#"