Page 10 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.16 2020-21

Cliftonville Ladies hold on to the early leadership of the Danske Bank Women’s
Premiership after they won 3-2 against Linfield Ladies on Wednesday night.
Kirsty McGuinness and Marissa Callaghan ensured that the Reds were two goals
ahead at half time, before Rebecca Bassett gave Linfield hope by pulling one back midway
through the second half. Toni-Leigh Finnegan scored from the penalty spot to give
Cliftonville an important win, despite Rebecca McKenna reducing the arrears in injury time.
Glentoran made sure of keeping pace with Cliftonville, thanks to a 3-0 victory away
to Sion Swifts. The match was goalless at half time but a 15-minute hat-trick in the second
half from Kerry Beattie saw the Glens to their second straight win.
Crusaders are off the mark
following their 4-1 win against Derry P W D L F A Pts GD
City. Lisa Armour and a Danielle CLIFTONVILLE LADIES 2 2 0 0 7 2 6 33
McDowell penalty gave Crusaders a two- GLENTORAN 2 2 0 0 4 0 6 9
LINFIELD LADIES 2 1 0 1 5 3 3 16
goal lead, before 17-year-old Grace CRUSADERS STRIKERS 2 1 0 1 4 2 3 11
Donaghey pulled a goal back for Derry SION SWIFTS 2 0 0 2 0 6 0 0
via a long range free kick. Mairead DERRY CITY 2 0 0 2 1 8 0 1
McCann and Emily Wilson then added
further goals to seal Crusaders’ first Crusaders 4 Derry 1; Cliftonville 3 Linfield 2; Sion 0 Glentoran 3.
points.

UEFA’s revamped Women’s Champions League, set to kick off this summer, will herald the
dawn of a more sustainable future for women’s football, thanks to a pioneering financial
distribution model.
The new model, introduced for the 2021-22 season and approved by UEFA’s
Executive Committee last week, will see the world’s biggest women’s club competition
redistribute €24 million to women’s football across Europe – more than four times greater
than the current figure.
This significant increase is a result of UEFA’s redesign of the Women’s Champions
League, which includes the centralisation of sponsorship and media rights from the group
stage onwards. In addition to the revenue generated by this decision, the new financial
distribution model will also draw on the first ever cross-subsidy from UEFA men’s club
competitions to support the women’s game and UEFA investment.
European football’s governing body has also committed to redistribute 23% of the
total €24 million available via ‘solidarity payments’ to non-participating clubs in each of the
European top domestic leagues represented in the competition. These payments must be
reinvested in the development of women’s club football.
UEFA has also taken steps to adapt its competition regulations to better protect
female professional players, as well as to promote the development of European talent. The
regulations will now safeguard the welfare of players who become mothers. From the start of
next season, participating clubs will have the flexibility to alter their squad lists at any time
during the season in order to temporarily replace players, either because they are pregnant,
or because they leave for or return from maternity leave.
The development of talented youth players is now central to competition regulations.
The introduction of a B-List will allow clubs to supplement squad lists by including young
players who meet specific criteria. Furthermore, from the 2022-23 season, UEFA plans to
introduce a ‘locally trained player’ rule to nurture the growth of European homegrown talent.
Issue no. 16 - 6 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk