"Professional football lacks substantial representation for women"
In the world of German professional football, a call for change is echoing through the ranks as the business manager of a large sports marketing agency, Katja Kraus, tirelessly emphasizes the need for clubs to diversify their leadership. However, progress appears to be slow and fraught with challenges.
According to recent statistics, only 6% of top management positions in the 36 clubs from the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga are held by women. This figure is a stark contrast to the broader corporate and professional sectors, where, despite explicit gender diversity goals, progress in achieving gender balance at senior leadership levels remains a struggle.
Three clubs - Werder Bremen, St. Pauli, and Hamburger SV - are exceptions, as they have diversity targets anchored in their statutes. Yet, these clubs remain the exception rather than the rule.
Recent initiatives in German football, such as those supported by the UEFA Foundation, focus on advocating for gender equity and creating safer spaces for young girls, particularly from marginalized communities. While these efforts are commendable, they primarily target youth participation and community engagement, rather than directly addressing gender diversity in club top management or executive roles.
The second annual report "State of the League" by "Football Can Do More" (FKM) strongly criticizes German professional football for its lack of diversity in leadership. Out of 19 new top-level positions, only one went to a woman: Luise Gottberg was elected to the presidium of FC St. Pauli. Schalke 04, St. Pauli, 1. FC Heidenheim, and Werder Bremen are the only clubs with a woman in their top management.
Katja Kraus, a former national goalkeeper and former board member of Hamburger SV, emphasizes that the lack of women in top management positions is not about blame, but a results-driven sport. She points out that all the positive discussions and efforts for change by many decision-makers have not yet resulted in corresponding numbers.
The AllBright Foundation's survey on diversity in German professional football last year was disappointing, further underscoring the need for action. Kraus, who lives in Hamburg, has just witnessed the opportunities that greater diversity offers at the Women's Euro in Switzerland. The pleasant atmosphere during the tournament was closely linked to a high proportion of women.
In conclusion, while programs exist to promote gender equity within German football culture and participation, their effectiveness in advancing women into top management positions within professional clubs is either limited, not well-documented, or slow to materialize. More comprehensive, data-driven strategies focusing explicitly on leadership pipelines, transparency, and accountability would be needed to accelerate meaningful change at the executive level.
- Katja Kraus, the business manager of a large sports marketing agency, insists that the science of diversity and inclusion should be applied more extensively in German professional football to foster gender balance in leadership.
- Recognizing the significance of health-and-wellness and women's health, the UEFA Foundation advocates for gender equity in sports, particularly for young girls from marginalized communities.
- In the realm of business and financial management, Katja Kraus highlights the need for clubs to promote diversity and inclusion in their leadership structure in order to thrive in the world of sports, specifically football.
- The lack of women in top management positions in German football is a challenge that requires immediate attention and innovative strategies in health-and-wellness, diversity-and-inclusion, and business sectors to effect meaningful change.
