Male and female footballers in Norway to get equal pay

Male and female footballers in Norway are going to be paid the same amount for representing their country in international matches.

Norway's Football Association and international players agreed the new deal, which will mean female players will get paid double the amount they used to. 

The announcement coincided with International Day of the Girl, adding more weight to this positive development in sport with regard to the promotion of equality on a global stage.

The issue of the gender pay gap has been a hotly discussed topic in recent times, especially in the world of sport. This is thought to be the first time in football, in any country, that all players, regardless of gender, will be paid the same.

Under the new system female players will be paid somewhere between £296,000 and £574,000, with some of this money being given by the men's international team.

National team winger Caroline Graham Hansen thanked her male colleagues for their solidarity with their cause and social activism. 

"Thank you for making this step for female athletes. For showing equality and helping us all, making it a bit easier, to chase our dreams."

Joachim Walltin, the union boss who looks after the interests of all Norway's footballers, says the new agreement is a big step forward.

"Norway is a country where equal standing is very important for us, so I think it is good for the country and for the sport."

"For the girls, it will certainly make a difference. Some of them are actually working and studying, as well as playing football, and it's hard to improve then."

But, he asked people to remember that for the female players it's not all about pay.

"The feeling of being really respected is very important for. The federation can see it as an investment to increase the level of the women's team," he said.

Lots of people have been talking about the difference between how women footballers are treated, compared to male players.

Denmark recently cancelled a home women's friendly against Holland because of a disagreement over money, and Irish female players were told to change into their tracksuits in toilets as their kit had to be shared with under-age teams.

Walltin says, for the female players, feeling that the women's game is respected is hugely important.

He says while getting an equal deal on pay is a big step, there still needs to be changes to how women's football teams, all over the world, are treated.