Survey: Women's soccer medical support falls short

Women’s soccer is "falling short in key areas including medical support and pay," according to a survey of players involved in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. The survey, conducted by players' union FIFPRO and released today, found that "60% of respondents said they lacked mental health support," while "one in three earned less than $30,000 a year from soccer." The survey highlighted "further areas of concern relating to the conditions players were expected to operate under." It said 10% "did not undergo a medical examination before the tournament." In what the union described as a "worrying statistic," it said 22% "did not have an electrocardiogram." FIFPRO said two-thirds of players "claimed they were not in peak condition by the time the tournament started" and 53% believed they’d had "insufficient rest before their opening game at the World Cup." FIFPRO said it surveyed 260 players from 26 of the 32 national teams in the tournament (AP, 11/29).