Denmark men's soccer team refuses pay rise to ensure equal conditions with female counterparts

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Players from Denmark’s men’s team refused a pay rise in what has been described as an “extraordinary step” to ensure they have equal working conditions with their female soccer counterparts.

The men’s team’s new agreement with the Danish Football Association comes into effect after the European Championship in Germany until 2028. It will see male and female internationals receive the same money for representing their national teams.

As part of the new deal, the male players accepted a 15% decrease in their insurance coverage to allow for an upgrade of that of the women’s players by 50%. The men also turned down the opportunity for a pay rise.

“It’s an extraordinary step to help improve the conditions of the women’s national teams," Michael Sahl Hansen, director of Denmark’s players’ union, Spillerforeningen, said in a statement released by world players’ union FIFPRO on Friday.

“So, instead of looking for better conditions for themselves, the players thought about supporting the women’s team.”

Sahl Hansen said the male players who took part in the negotiations, including Christian Eriksen, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Simon Kjaer and Kasper Schmeichel, were “very happy” with the deal.

“This was what they wanted. It showed that they are taking the responsibility,” he said. “They liked the idea of providing other national teams with better opportunities and conditions.”