PERNILLE HARDER says she thinks the equality battle in football should be focused on facilities and opportunities rather than on salaries.
Harder, 28, said that while men and women’s football salaries may never be par, she believes that their academies and training facilities should be on a similar level.
While speaking on Uefa’s The Football Podcast, she said: “Equality is having the same facilities and opportunities to succeed as the men’s team.
“It’s not equal pay that we’re asking for right now – we want equal opportunities and the respect for what we do every day.
“I want to see equal opportunities for young boys and girls. You see a lot of good football academies for boys – where are the ones for girls?
“There is a big opportunity there. Can you imagine if girls had the same opportunities as the boys? There was nothing like that when I was young.
“My parents had to drive hours to take us to training – girls have to work a lot harder for it.”
Harder went on to say that this is something she is passionate about and hoped that her record breaking transfer to Chelsea can help shed light on the issue.
She added: “I’m passionate about it and I want to speak up when I have the opportunity.
“To make the world a better place, we have to change the mindset of the decision makers – we have to speak up and let them see we aren’t satisfied.
“I hope my record-breaking signing for Chelsea is the start of something new for women’s football.
“Everyone should have the same opportunities in life – it shouldn’t matter what sex you are, what religion you follow, or what skin colour you have. I want to fight for these things.”
The Danish striker has had a glittering career thus far and has won an array of awards including the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year Award in 2018.
She was also shortlisted for the women’s FIFA best Footballer Award in November 2020.
Harder has been a revelation since she joined the Blues from Wolfsburg in September last year for a record fee of over £250,000.
Blues boss Emma Hayes has credited her for playing a major part in their recent success.
Hayes said: “Pernille has got a fantastic mentality and one that has put her where she is today.
“I think it’s important to note that we, as a football club, can’t take any of the credit for this.
“What I know about the best – and I have coached a lot of top players in my career – is that they have unbelievable attention to detail.
“And the best always do it on training pitch, day-in, day-out, and Pernille is exceptional in training.
“The goals she has contributed, the assists and the involvement she has in creating our goals have been unbelievable.”
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