WSL: Would it be ready for Fifa’s female coach requirements?

Fifa has implemented a landmark policy that teams in their tournaments must include female coaches.

Under the new ruling, at least two staff members on the bench of every team at matches must be women, with one in an assistant or head coach role.

The rules apply to international football and Fifa club competitions.

Looking across the top 10 nations in the world, six would already be compliant although only four of them have female head coaches.

But does action need to be taken in the English game?

In the Women’s Super League (WSL), BBC research suggests three teams would currently comply with Fifa’s rules. Only a third of WSL managers are female, while two clubs do not appear to have any female head coach or assistant coaches.

“To give equal opportunity, sometimes you need to inject,” said Arsenal manager Renee Slegers. “I’m very proud to be part of Arsenal where there are so many women working at a really high level.”

Fifa’s requirements come into effect for the under-17s and under-20s Women’s World Cup and Women’s Champions Cup competitions later this year.

The rationale is to spark a rapid increase in female representation in coaching roles.

The Women’s Super League says growing the number of female coaches is a priority and is taking a “thoughtful approach” in conjunction with the FA.

They point to a number of pathways already established such as the Coaching Initiative, mentoring and an elite female coaching programme, designed to improve access for women to the top levels of the English game.

Slegers added that anything the WSL could do, whether by regulations, influencing or role modelling, was “powerful”.