Women's football in France

Last updated

Women's football in France
20131031 Gruppenbild FR 8888.jpg
France lineup ahead of a 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification match against Austria
CountryFrance
Governing body French Football Federation
National team(s) Women's national team
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions
Champions League
FIFA Women's World Cup (National Team)
European Championship (National Team)
Olympics (National Team)

Women's football in France is run by the French Football Federation. [1] As such the national team are eligible to play in the World Cup and the European Championship, whilst clubs can enter the UEFA Women's Champions League. The earliest known women's football match involving the French was a women's French team versus the Dick, Kerr's Ladies team from Preston, played at Goodison Park, Liverpool on Boxing Day 1920, attracted a crowd of 53,000 with another 10–15,000 reportedly turned away because the ground was full. [2] [3]

Contents

Although popular amongst girls, many experience prejudice and discrimination. [4] [5] [6]

History

The first recorded instance of women's football in France was in 1910 at a high school for young girls in Pont-à-Mousson (Meurthe-et-Moselle). [7]

In 1919 the Fédération des sociétés féminines sportives de France (FSFSF), began organising women's football until 1933, when French Football Federation formally banned women's football. [8] In 1940 the Vichy government upheld the ban of women's football. [9]

Although as a recreational activity womens football was able to survive after World War 2, the first organised games dates back to July 1968 when Pierre Geoffroy a journalist from L'Union launched an appeal to organise a women's match during the annual fair. [10] Fifteen women responded to this call. "In Reims, Humbécourt, Gerstheim, but also in the suburbs of Lyon, women's matches are being developed as a curtain raiser for men's matches, in order to entertain the men in the stands." But in Reims, the players are organizing themselves to perpetuate their practice within the Stade de Reims, which will become the women's team Stade de Reims Féminines. As pioneers, the Reims women footballers then embarked on the promotion of women's football. For five years, they toured internationally, even playing in front of 60,000 Indonesian spectators in Bandung. [10] In the wake of Reims, other women's football teams were created, notably in Champagne-Ardenne, Bas-Rhin, Charente, and the suburbs of Lyon and Paris, which led the French Football Federation to officially recognise the practice on 23 March 1970 and about fifty teams during the year. [10] [11]

Club football

As of 2021 the pyramid consists of four tiers: The top tier, then Division 2 which is split into two groups, followed by Division 3 which is split into four groups, which is then are fed from many Tier 4 regional leagues.

Division 1 Féminine was created in 1918 and placed under the aegis of the Fédération des Sociétés Féminines Sportives de France (FSFSF), a women's football organization led by pioneer Alice Milliat. The competition was organized for fourteen consecutive years until in 1932 women's football was banned. The most successful club during this period was by far Fémina Sports Paris with 12 titles. En Avant Paris captured two titles whilst Les Sportives de Paris won the remaining campaign.

In 1975 the women's football was officially rehabilitated and Division 1 Féminine returned to be organized thanks to the funds made available by the Fédération Française de Football (FFF). [12] With the 2009-2010 season it went to professionalism, [13] being the contracts previously signed semi-professional. Until the 1991–92 season, the championship included a first group stage followed by a direct elimination phase with a final to decree the winning team of the title. Starting from the 1992–93 season they went to an Italian group with round and back bets.[ further explanation needed ] Over the years there has been an alternation between the winning teams of the championship. In the 1970s, the Stade de Reims won the first three championships and in all five titles over eight years, from 1974 to 1982. The 1980s saw the dominance of the VGA Saint-Maur, able to win six titles between 1983 and 1990, four consecutive years between 1985 and 1988. In the 1990s there was an alternation in the wins of the Lyon-Juvisy championship before the four consecutive titles won by Toulouse between 1999 and 2002. From 2007 to 2018, Division 1 Féminine saw Lyon dominate and win twelve consecutive championships. [14] This has made Lyon the most successful side since 1975 with 14 titles, followed by VGA Saint-Maur and Paris FC with six apiece.

Since the 2019-20 season France has seen the top 3 teams in Division 1 qualify for UEFA Women's Champions League tournament, before which two teams were sent. Lyon are the most successful team in the history of the tournament with seven wins and two other final appearances (3 more than German side Frankfurt). [15] The other French side to have reached the final are PSG who have appeared twice without victory.

The national cup competition, the Coupe de France féminine, was first contested in 2002. [16] Lyon have won 9 of the 19 finals, with only Montpellier (3), Lyon and PSG (2) the other only clubs to have won more than once. A total of 124 clubs took part in the 2020-21 tournament, participation of which is voluntary for clubs at Tier 4 level. The super cup, between the league and cup winners, is named Trophee des Championnes Féminin.


National leagues

From 2023–24 onwards :

LevelLeague(s)/Division(s)
1 Première Ligue
12 clubs
2 Seconde Ligue
12 clubs

3

 Division 3 Féminine
24 clubs divided into 2 groups
Group A
12 clubs		Group B
12 clubs
4 Alsace Honneur, Aquitaine Honneur, Atlantique Honneur, Auvergne Honneur, Lower Normandy Honneur, Burgundy Honneur, Brittany Honneur, Centre Honneur, Centre-Ouest Honneur, Champagne-Ardenne Honneur, Corsica Honneur, Franche-Comté Honneur, Languedoc-Roussillon Honneur, Lorraine Honneur, Maine Honneur, Provence Honneur, Midi-Pyrénées Honneur, Nord-Pas-de-Calais Honneur, Upper Normandy Honneur, Paris Honneur, Picardy Honneur, Rhône-Alpes Honneur

National team

On 17 April 1971, the French team played the first women's international football match recognized by FIFA against the Netherlands with Marie-Claire Caron-Harant and Jocelyne Ratignier scoring. [17] The match took place in Hazebrouck, France and resulted in a 4–0 win for France. [18]

The national team, who do not have a permanent home stadium, have qualified for the World Cup four times, firstly in 2003. Their most successful campaign came in 2011 where they reached the semi-finals. On the European stage they have qualified for every UEFA Women's Championship since 1997, [19] and they have reached the quarter-final three times (2009, 2013, 2017). They have appeared twice at the Summer Olympics in 2012 and 2016. Their highest FIFA ranking was 3rd whilst in September 2009 they hit their lowest, 10th.

Their most capped player is Sandrine Soubeyrand with 198 appearances between 1997 and 2013. Their most prolific goalscorer is current player Eugénie Le Sommer who has scored 86 since her debut in 2009. Since 1987 there have been seven managers: Aimé Mignot (1987–1997), Élisabeth Loisel (1997–2007), Bruno Bini (2007–2013), Philippe Bergeroo (2013–2016), Olivier Echouafni (2016–2017), Corinne Diacre (2017–2023), Hervé Renard (2023–present).

The Under 19 team have appeared in the FIFA U-20 World Cup seven times since debuting in 2002. Their best result was a runners up spot in 2016. In the UEFA Under-19 Championship they have claimed the title at total of five times, whilst reaching the semi-finals a further five times. There is also an Under 17 side whose biggest success was winning the World Cup in 2012. [15]

2023 World Cup advertisement

Before the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, the French telecom company Orange created a video using deepfake technology where real game footage of the French women's national team was edited to make the women's players appear as popular French men's national team players. At the end of the advertisement, it was revealed what viewers thought were men's highlights were actually women's highlights. [20] The advertisement went viral. [21] [22] The purpose was to challenge prejudice against women's football. [23]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">France women's national football team</span> Womens national association football team representing France

The France women's national football team represents France in international women's football. The team is directed by the French Football Federation (FFF). France competes as a member of UEFA in various international football tournaments such as the FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Euro, the Summer Olympics, and the Algarve Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Première Ligue</span> Womens association football league in France

The Première Ligue is a professional women's association football league at the highest level of the French football league system, and is run by the Ligue féminine de football professionnel (LFFP). Its annual competition features twelve teams playing two series of round-robin matches from September to June, to determine the four participants of a single-elimination tournament. The winners of the tournament are crowned champions of France, and contest the Trophée des Championnes match the following season. At the end of each season, the top three teams qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League, while the bottom two teams are relegated to the Seconde Ligue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reynald Pedros</span> French football manager (born 1971)

Reynald Michel Sebastian Pedros is a French professional football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He recently managed the Morocco women's national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris FC (women)</span> Womens association football club

Paris FC is a French women's football club based in Viry-Châtillon, a suburb of Paris. The club is the female section of Ligue 2 men's club Paris FC. The club was founded in 1971 and currently play in the Première Ligue, the first division of women's football in France. The club has played in the first division since 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olympique Lyonnais Féminin</span> Football club

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin is a French women's professional football club based in Lyon. The club has been the female section of Olympique Lyonnais since 2004. It is the most successful club in the history of the Première Ligue, with seventeen league titles as Olympique Lyonnais and four league titles as FC Lyon before the acquisition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camille Abily</span> French footballer

Camille Anne Françoise Abily is a French football manager and former player, who featured prominently for both the France women's national team and for Lyon in the Division 1 Féminine. She currently is the assistant manager of Chelsea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisa Cadamuro</span> French footballer

Louisa Nécib Cadamuro is a French former professional footballer who played for the France national team. She spent the majority of her career at Lyon, amassing eighteen titles with the French club over a nine-year span. She played as a attacking midfielder and was described as a "gifted playmaker" who "possesses superb technique". Nécib is also known for her "elegant possession, sublime passing skills, and cultured touch on the ball".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Élodie Thomis</span> French footballer

Élodie Ginette Thomis is a French former football player who played for French club Lyon of the Division 1 Féminine. She played either a winger or striker and was described as a player who possesses pace comparable to that of French men's internationals Thierry Henry and Sidney Govou. Thomis is a graduate of the women's section of the Clairefontaine academy and was a French women's international having made her debut with the team in June 2005 at UEFA Women's Euro 2005 against Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Georges</span> French footballer (born 1984)

Laura Stéphanie Georges is a French retired footballer who is the Secretary General of the French Football Federation. She last played for German club Bayern Munich of the Bundesliga, and served as the first-choice captain of her club and played primarily as a central defender, but was also used as a defensive midfielder. Georges was also a France women's international having made her senior international debut in September 2001. She represented her nation at seven major international tournaments; the 2003, 2011 and 2015 editions of the FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonia Bompastor</span> French football manager

Sonia Bompastor is a French football manager and former player who currently manages Chelsea of the English Women's Super League. She is the first person to win the UEFA Women's Champions League as both a player and a manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paris Saint-Germain FC (women)</span> Womens department of Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain Football Club, commonly referred to as Paris Saint-Germain or simply PSG, are a French professional women's football club based in Paris. Founded in 1971, they compete in the Première Ligue, the top division of French football. Their home ground is the Stade Jean-Bouin. They are the women's department of Paris Saint-Germain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandrine Soubeyrand</span> French footballer

Sandrine Soubeyrand is a French former footballer and current coach of Paris FC (women). She played as a midfielder for France national team, Félines Saint-Cyr, Caluire and Juvisy.

Sabrina Marie-Christine Viguier is a retired French football player. She played as a centre back and has played for the France women's national football team making her debut in 2000. She last played for IF Limhamn Bunkeflo Malmö of the Elitettan until she announced her retirement from football in 2017. She has won the UEFA Women's Champions League twice with Olympique Lyonnais in 2011 and 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugénie Le Sommer</span> French footballer

Eugénie Anne Claudine Le Sommer-Dariel is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for French club Lyon and the France national team. She primarily plays as a creative attacking midfielder and left winger, but has also played as a second striker for her country.

The Paris Saint-Germain Academy is the youth system of both Paris Saint-Germain's men's and women's teams. Managed by the Association Paris Saint-Germain, the academy was officially established in 1975, but has been developing young talents since the club's foundation in 1970. The academy now has centres in several countries around the world. Likewise, PSG began developing youth players for the women's section in 2012, with the academy officially opening in 2023. Campus PSG in Poissy is currently the training facility and home ground of both sections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amel Majri</span> Footballer (born 1993)

Amel Majri is a professional footballer who plays as a winger and left-back for Première Ligue club Lyon and the France national team. With Lyon, she has won thirteen league titles and eight UEFA Women's Champions League titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kadidiatou Diani</span> French footballer (born 1995)

Kadidiatou Diani is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Première Ligue club Lyon and the France national team.

Melchie Daëlle Dumornay, also known as Corventina, is a Haitian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Première Ligue club Lyon and the Haiti national team.

<i>Fédération des sociétés féminines sportives de France</i> French womens sport organisation

The Fédération des sociétés féminines sportives de France was a French organisation set up to promote women's sport. The FSFSF was responsible for the French women's football championship from 1919 until 1932, and organised the Women's Olympiad, an alternative to the Olympic Games, between 1921 and 1923.

Alice Dauphine Sombath is a French professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Division 1 Féminine club Lyon.

References

  1. ↑ "French Women Are Taking Over Soccer". The New Yorker. 10 June 2015. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  2. ↑ Holden, Kit (1997-02-27). "When Ladies of Preston ruled the world - Sport". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  3. ↑ Buckley, Will (2009-09-09). "The forgotten story of ... the Dick, Kerr's Ladies football team | Will Buckley | Football | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  4. ↑ Sciolino, Elaine (16 September 2002). "Paris Journal; For French Girls, Playing Soccer Is a Tough Goal". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-07-30.
  5. ↑ "Spotlight on France - More and more women and girls play football in France". 30 May 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  6. ↑ 2009 UEFA European Women's Championship Match Press Kit (PDF), 29 August 2009
  7. ↑ "Pont-à-Mousson. Les premières footballeuses françaises ont joué à Pont-à-Mousson". www.estrepublicain.fr.
  8. ↑ "Fémina sport : aux sources du foot des femmes en France". Libération (in French). 10 June 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "Women's World Cup 2019: Could this be a landmark moment for French sport and culture?". BBC Sport. 5 June 2019.
  10. 1 2 3 "10 choses à savoir sur le football féminin français qui fête son cinquantenaire". L'Équipe.
  11. ↑ "5 dates clefs sur l'histoire du football féminin". Cosmopolitan.fr (in French).
  12. ↑ Fédération Française de Football (Hrsg.): 100 dates, histoires, objets du football français. Tana, o. O. 2011, ISBN 978-2-84567-701-2, Page. 121
  13. ↑ "Statut pro pour ces dames - Foot - Féminines - L'EQUIPE.FR". 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 10 March 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  14. ↑ Simon, Frank (27 May 2019). "Women's World Cup 2019 team guide No 1: France". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 June 2019– via www.theguardian.com.
  15. 1 2 "Women's football in France | Inside UEFA". UEFA.com. July 9, 2022.
  16. ↑ Rebaudo, Chloé (15 May 2022). "RÉCIT. " Jouer un samedi soir, c'était exceptionnel " : il y a 20 ans, la Coupe de France féminine". Ouest France (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  17. ↑ Longman, Jeré (2019-06-25). "In Women's World Cup Origin Story, Fact and Fiction Blur". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  18. ↑ "First ladies pave the way". FIFA.com. 8 April 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  19. ↑ "1997, entrées dans l'histoire". www.fff.fr. Retrieved 2023-02-03.
  20. ↑ "France's awesome Women's World Cup ad with unexpected twist". ESPN.com. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  21. ↑ "Viral French Soccer Ad Subverts Gender Expectations". Time. 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  22. ↑ "Fans rave about French Women's World Cup ad with unexpected twist". Reuters. 2023-07-15. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
  23. ↑ O'Neill, Caoimhe. "The World Cup advert that is challenging perceptions - and what it says about sport". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-11-22.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.