Hønefoss women’s football team struggles with prize money disparity despite victory against Viking

Despite Hønefoss Ballklubb securing a 1-0 home victory against Viking, players will not experience a new financial reality. The captain, Silje Bekkåsen Nyhagen, expressed disappointment over the stark contrast in prize money between men’s and women’s leagues. While the men’s first division champions receive over 7.5 million kroner, their female counterparts earn only 650,000 kroner. At best, this disparity might allow for some players to transition to professional contracts, but Nyhagen admitted, “I can dream of being a full-time football player, but it’s not the case.”

The club’s players juggle jobs and studies alongside their evening training. Nyhagen herself is a youth coach at Hønefoss, a role necessary for financial sustainability. She anticipates that next year, as HBK ascends to a higher division, they will encounter clubs with larger budgets capable of better supporting women’s teams.

Nyhagen lamented the inequalities between men’s and women’s football, wishing for a more equitable landscape. Yet, she remains hopeful as more female role models emerge, advocating for change. However, she acknowledges it will be a gradual process.

The club management desires to provide full-time contracts for their players, but this remains a distant goal. Henning Brendstuen, the club’s general manager, noted that current financial constraints make it tough to attract sponsorships. He asserted they are “far from it,” emphasizing that an increase in prize money would transform their situation significantly. The current reward structure is governed by the Norwegian Football Federation and related organizations, which have established a distribution system that leaves significant gaps in funding for women’s football compared to its male counterpart.