Europe: distribution of football fans in 2016, by country and gender
In 2016, it appears that in selected European countries, most football fans were male. Football is probably the most popular sports worldwide, but football fans seem to be predominantly male in every country. This gender difference does not only concern fans but the entire football industry.
Most football fans are men in Europe
United Kingdom and France were the two European countries were the proportion of male football fans was the highest. In these two countries, 67 percent of football fans were male in 2016. In comparison, the percentage of female football fans in Italy, Russia and Spain, if it did not achieve equality, was at least less important. For example, 41 percent of Russian football fans were female. In the Big Five leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and the Ligue 1), women still make up the minority of stadium-goers.
The gender gap in Football
Even though most European football fans are men, women are getting more and more involved in the practice of football. For the 2016/2017 season, there were more than 772,000 licensed female football players in Germany. Furthermore, women’s football has a rather good image, particularly in France, where the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held. However, if women’s football is getting more popular, the gender gap in this sport is still a rampant issue. In 2017, the total annual salary of the top-7 women’s football league reached 42.6 million dollars compared to 43.8 million for Brazilian player Neymar’s only annual salary.
Most football fans are men in Europe
United Kingdom and France were the two European countries were the proportion of male football fans was the highest. In these two countries, 67 percent of football fans were male in 2016. In comparison, the percentage of female football fans in Italy, Russia and Spain, if it did not achieve equality, was at least less important. For example, 41 percent of Russian football fans were female. In the Big Five leagues (Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A and the Ligue 1), women still make up the minority of stadium-goers.
The gender gap in Football
Even though most European football fans are men, women are getting more and more involved in the practice of football. For the 2016/2017 season, there were more than 772,000 licensed female football players in Germany. Furthermore, women’s football has a rather good image, particularly in France, where the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held. However, if women’s football is getting more popular, the gender gap in this sport is still a rampant issue. In 2017, the total annual salary of the top-7 women’s football league reached 42.6 million dollars compared to 43.8 million for Brazilian player Neymar’s only annual salary.
