María José López: “90% of the players will improve their situation with the professional league”

The first professional league of Spanish women's football is already on the horizon. The Superior Sports Council (CSD) announced last Tuesday through the appearance in the Congress of Deputies of the Secretary of State for Sports, José Manuel Franco, that the final step will be taken on June 15. On that day, top-flight women's football will be declared professional. A milestone that will mark a before and after in this category.

AS has been able to talk about this historic decision with María José López (Guareña, Badajoz, 1967), a lawyer for the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) who has actively led the claim and fight for a professional women's league. “It is vital for the growth of women's football. We are seeing how clubs like Barça are growing, for example, who have just won the first Champions League for Spanish football. It is necessary to go one step further and for this it is necessary to have a secure framework like the one provided by the professional league. “

The sports law specialist, who was one of the most important pieces in the negotiations for the first collective agreement of Spanish women's football, told AS the events of the last weeks, in which they were advanced and confirmed the arrival of the League professional. “They told us that everything was going forward for the next season because it was a political decision taken. It was a firm position of the Government of Spain. In fact, this is one of the reform issues that has been sent and raised to the European Union because there is a financing issue, “said the Extremaduran.

And, he continued: “Since there was talk of the professional league at the start of the season and the staging of Lozano in March, there has been a great silence. The latest news had been the survey of the players, unions, clubs and RFEF in December of last year. We had the feeling of emptiness and that there was no materialization of the project because the launch of a professional League is not improvised. A few weeks ago they told us that yes, there was a political decision and this was made known by José Manuel Franco at the appearance of Congress. “

“The idea is to follow the male model”

The AFE lawyer opened a range of unknowns about what is to come. “It is time to know how we made that League. It seems that the institution that will lead this competition will be the Higher Sports Council itself. Then it remains to be seen if a League and RFEF agreement will be carried out as in the men's or not. Everything has to be started. Yes, it is true that the agreement and labor rights will go forward with the Professional League. It is a point of no return. It should also be noted that in this transition exercise there is a direct tutelage of the Higher Sports Council, “he said.

On the other hand, María José says she does not know anything about the new entity that will preside over women's football. “The idea is to follow the male model with an institution similar to LaLiga,” he pointed out, before pointing out the great priorities of AFE with respect to labor points in this new League. “We are concerned about partiality. It is an issue that has to be eradicated. In the negotiations of the agreement we could not go beyond 75%. But in a professional league it is implantable and can be discriminatory because Royal Decree 1.006 / 85 does not admit professional leagues with partiality. It is understood that there is an exclusive dedication, “he began highlighting.

“We will also have a lot to do with the issue of the minimum wage, to raise it, and in the conditions of the stadiums and infrastructures. That there are fields in which the teams are holders or that have exclusive dedication. Natural grass doesn't have to be mandatory in the first year, but it should be the next. We do not have to mimic men's football, but we must avoid the mistakes they have made. We have that experience and we have to take advantage of it “, remarked María José.

“The RFEF has made a negative report on the Professional League”

For her part, the AFE lawyer highlighted the need for cooperation between all parties. “We all have to pitch in. The RFEF has made a negative report on the Professional League, but this is going against the future. If there is a men's professional league, why won't there be one in women's football? They do and they don't. Why? “, Reflects María José, who reported that the CSD's contacts with all parties are being continuous, with consultations for suggestions.

The sports law specialist ended by underlining the “capital importance” of the arrival of this professional League. “The first point that I would highlight is that we break with the bad story from the past where only professional men's leagues exist. Therefore, it is a historical fact. It would be the first professional women's league in Spain and this will consolidate labor relations “, distinguished María José, who pointed out two more keys in this milestone.

“With the professional league there will be no going back in the fight for equal conditionsI am not saying about wages but about treatment, and in the labor rights that have already been achieved. Another issue would also be the imposition of quotas for non-EU foreigners. And, finally, the structure that surrounds the clubs will be professionalized. “All this, according to the AFE lawyer, will leave a great point to be noted in women's football: “90% of the players will improve their situation with the professional league.”