"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. 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."
"The tournament made global headlines after seven members of the Iran squad sought asylum in Australia after being branded 'traitors' at home for refusing to sing the national anthem."
"From the players from the Indian team wearing ill-fitting kit, to Korean players navigating ongoing disputes with their federation, to the extraordinary courage of the Iranian players, who reminded the world what it means to stand up for one's beliefs."
Australia and Japan expressed disappointment over the Asian Cup organizers' failure to address the significant disparity in prize money between men's and women's events. The prize fund for the Asian Cup was $1.8 million, while the men's equivalent was $14.8 million. Both teams emphasized that equal prize money would greatly benefit players and football communities across Asia. They highlighted the tournament's success and urged the Asian Football Confederation to collaborate on creating a lasting legacy and improving conditions for all players involved.
Read at www.bbc.com
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