Coronavirus in football: Twice as many players report mental health problems during pandemic amid fears for women’s game

Twice as many players are reporting mental health problems in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, FIFPRO’s Chief Women’s Football Officer has revealed.

FIFPRO’s extensive study of 1,602 professional players, conducted between March 22 and April 22, discovered that 22 per cent of 468 female players and 13 per cent of 1,134 male players reported symptoms that are connected to depression and anxiety.

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Amanda Vandervort addressed a host of topics concerning the women’s game amid the coronavirus pandemic

Amanda Vandervort discussed the findings on the Women’s Football Weekly show on talkSPORT 2, as well as FIFPRO’s ‘Raising Our Game’ report – which includes the thoughts of 186 female national team players.

“Within the context of coronavirus we’ve done two studies on the mental health of players over the past six months and what we’ve found is that twice as many players, particularly females, are reporting experiences of depression and anxiety,” Vandervort said.

“We need to seriously look at the impact that coronavirus has had on players today, and how our systems and structures are supporting them in their current moment of need.”

Women’s football was booming, especially in this country, prior to the suspension of all sporting events due to the worldwide COVID-19 outbreak.

Give COVID-19 the red card

The quicker we work together to stop coronavirus spreading, the sooner we can get back into the pubs, the gyms and stadiums and arenas to see live sport again…

STAY AT HOME. Only leave for the following purposes:

• to shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to


• to do one form of exercise a day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with


• for any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person


• to travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary

For more info and tips, visit the NHS website.

The government has also issued further detail on what we can do during lockdown.

Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading.

There is, however, a serious concern among many players about the long-term future of the women’s game, with Vandervort admitting there is a ‘threat’ to its sustainability moving forward – something which must be addressed quickly.

She continued: “This study has brought dialogue to the forefront of people’s mind, particular those at the top table within women’s football.

“A lot of these players are worried about the future of the women’s game.

“Until this happened women’s football was absolutely on the rise, and you guys in England were absolutely smashing it. So we must not lose sight of that.

“It’s a question of what are some of the tweaks and changes we can do to elevate the game now.

Eddie Howe discusses how the Bournemouth players are coping during the coronavirus crisis

“Yeah, there is a threat [to the future] but at least we are having that dialogue now and not in two years time when teams are folding and in five years if the women’s game went bust.

“Let’s address it now, so we won’t have to have those conversations then. That’s the critical part of the conversation and that’s what FIFPRO have highlighted in their latest audit of women’s football.”

The Women’s Football Weekly show is live on talkSPORT 2 every Monday evening from 6-7pm

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