Chelsea Women midfielder Maren Mjelde believes the clause should be removed.GETTY IMAGES
Players in England's fully-professional Women's Super League are "at risk of being sacked by their clubs if an injury or illness sidelines them for more than three months," according to Louise Taylor of the London GUARDIAN. A clause found "deep in the small-print of the standard contracts used by WSL teams" says that clubs are "at liberty to offload players in such circumstances providing they offer them three months' notice." Although no WSL team has activated the clause since its installation in contracts in '11, its existence "highlights the fragility of the foundations" underpinning Europe's only wholly-professional women's league. The FA, which runs the WSL, was "quick to respond" to the revelation made by Danish newspaper Politiken, describing the clause as necessary because of the "unique demands" of the "embryonic English game." In "extreme circumstances," the notice period could, legally, be served from the moment of first diagnosis. An FA spokesperson stressed the standard contract complies with U.K. employment law and was agreed after consultation with the clubs and the Professional Footballers' Association. It also confirmed it is due for review next year, when there will be "scope for changes" (GUARDIAN, 11/23). The BBC's Alistair Magowan reported the notice period is issued for "long-term injuries," which are deemed as little as three months. The notice period can also be served from when the injury is first diagnosed rather than when the player has been on the sidelines for three months. But one WSL manager said that "no big club would sack a player in this instance based on the value of the player and the reputational damage it could cause." The manager believes that the clause would be "more beneficial to teams who have fewer financial resources at their disposal" (BBC, 11/23).
'VERY DISAPPOINTING': In London, Martyn Ziegler reported Norwegian int'l Maren Mjelde, who plays for Chelsea Women, called the policy "horrible." Mjelde: "It is very disappointing. No players choose to be injured. I have not heard any clubs have made use of the clause but it's horrible that it’s in the contracts. It should be removed" (LONDON TIMES, 11/24).
