Australia & Japan’s equal prize money request ‘ignored’

Asian Cup finalists Australia and Japan say organisers “ignored” their pre-tournament request to address the inequality in prize money between the men’s and women’s events.

The prize fund for the Asian Cup was reported to be $1.8m (£936,630), compared to $14.8m (£7.7m) for the men’s equivalent.

Japan beat Australia 1-0 in Sydney in front of 74,397 spectators – the biggest crowd in the competition’s history.

“Despite the success of this tournament it remains the lowest-paying continental tournament in the world and inequality between the men’s and women’s game remains,” Australia and Japan said in a joint statement posted by world players’ union Fifpro.

“Our pre-tournament invitation to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to work together on equal prize money, a guaranteed share to all players, and to co-develop a lasting legacy has so far been ignored.

“Equal prize money would be transformational for all players and football communities across Asia and help raise standards at all levels of the game across our region.

“Equality benefits players in the short term, but football in the long term.”

BBC Sport has contacted the AFC for comment.