Carballedo: “This Copa de la Reina is special for Madrid”

The Iberdrola Queen's Cup The champion awaits in Madrid, which will host the final between Barça and Levante tomorrow (20:00) at the Butarque stadium in Leganés. In the run-up to this great game, AS has gathered in the Ciudad del Fútbol of Las Rozas Eugenia Carballedo, Councilor for Sports of the Community of Madrid, and María Tato, president of women's football at the RFEF. Both reveal the keys to the agreement for this sporting event and value the great growth of Spanish women's football.

“This Cup is special for Madrid. It is the opportunity to attract a great sporting event and to continue advancing in helping women tear down walls. We wanted the magical final in Granada in 2019, which attracted 1.6 million spectators, also come to Madrid “, began by saying Carballedo, to which Tato joined with a great” thanks “for the treatment of the Community of Madrid when preparing this appointment.

“Offers to host tournaments like the Cup have increased a lot. Madrid was a place that we wanted and that always treats us with great affection “, explained the head honcho of women's football at the RFEF, from which they highlight a great increase in the interest of brands in this category.”Many companies call us that want a sponsorship only in women's football. They see a possible economic return in this category and want to be exclusively linked to it, “said Tato.

“In five years, the number of licenses has grown 40% in Madrid”

Along these lines, the Madrid Sports Minister pointed to a boom in women's football in the region. “The Madrid women are showing that they want to play football and we can see that in that, In five years, the number of federated licenses for women's football has grown by 40% in Madrid. This is the fruit of great work. We have managed to have four teams (Real Madrid, Atlético, Madrid CFF and Rayo Vallecano) in the elite of women's football, “said Carballedo, who continued to reflect:” Before it seemed that women's football was one more element in order to achieve a certain parity. Now it is a sport in itself, attractive and of quality. That is why support for this event is essential. “

For her part, María Tato was very clear when questioned by the new Professional League for 2021-22. “It is the CSD that is leading everything. We can only reflect and share ideas. We do not set the rhythms of this process,” said Tato, who showed his opinion on the professional leap: “It must be done under conditions dignified on the playing fields (natural grass, facilities …) and in economic terms for the players, with salaries commensurate with the profession they perform. This requires continuous income. “

“We are referents and it is very important that we do things well”

Finally, the RFEF board of directors claimed to have a certain “fear” that money will be injected artificially in the next two or three seasons and that afterwards they will not be able to generate their own income to continue walking without support. “If this happens, we will return to the point of origin. Going from 0 to 100 is very risky in this category”Tato warned.

“There may be a thousand models of how to carry this out (professionalization). We always have to think about the sustainability of sports practice. The when I am not concerned and I am concerned that things are done well and last over time. It must be done with solid steps, especially now that we are in such a changing situation in all areas. Not only due to a pandemic, but also. In women's football everything goes very fast. Without realizing it, we just won the Champions League and we have put ourselves in the world epicenter of women's football. We are referents for many countries and that is why it is very important that we do things well, “remarked the president of the Federation's women's football.

“The public feels safe”

As happened in the semifinals (with assists of around 900 spectators), there will be an audience in the final between Barça and Levante in Butarque. From the Community of Madrid a restricted capacity of 30% has been marked (about 3,500 spectators). With tickets of 10, 15 and 20 euros, from the RFEF and the Government of the Community of Madrid expect a “good atmosphere”. “The public feels safe with the protocols. It is great news that you can enjoy events of this type“emphasized Eugenia Carballedo.

On the other hand, Tato wanted to show that there will be no invitations to value women's football. “There will be no invitations. Tickets have to be sold. Aesthetically, women's football has not been paid for and that is not good. You have to pay to enter a sporting event. It doesn't matter if they are women. We must create the habit of paying for tickets for women's football as well as for men's. At least starting with a testimonial cost (10, 15 and 20 euros)“, ruled the directive of the RFEF.