Why Are England’s Amputee Footballers Still Paying the Price to Represent Their Country?

Every footballer's dream is to represent their country, especially at the World Cup stage. But for one of England’s amputee teams, the World Cup is only half the battle they need to face. Before they compete in the World Cup this November, they must raise £50,000 to simply get there.

(Image Credits to The EAFA)

This situation has caused major frustration in the disabled sports community and it makes us question why a team representing their country should have to rely on public donations just to represent their country.

England's amputee football team have earned their place in the World Cup with their top class performance on the pitch like any other elite athletes. They have to manage countless hours into training while balancing work, education and family on top but instead of focusing on the biggest competition of their careers all players and staff have to spend valuable time fundraising just to play in the World Cup.

The England amputee has run independently since 2006 after the FA ended their funding but the FA funds multiple different para programs. Amputee football is currently not included in the funding pathway. The FA has stated that they will continue to support EAFA on their development but unfortunately there’s been no announcement that they will support the EAFA in their World Cup.

This is not the only team that has struggled with funding and won’t be the last. This is a major issue and is more than a tournament. It challenges how disabled sports continue to face a lack of public awareness and growing participation. The Paralympics games have transformed the view of disabled athletes but they still struggle to secure money to compete.

For any young disabled people wanting to represent their country internationally stories/situations like this can cause a major mixed message no matter how much encouragement they have to take them to the highest level once they reach the stage they face a major financial barrier or lack of representation.

Any elite athlete will face sacrifice when they play the game but no athlete will accept that even when playing at an elite level they will have to depend on if they have enough money. The England amputee football team have already done a difficult part qualifying but now they face an extremely difficult challenge finding the resources to wear the England shirt at World Cup level so as the Men’s World Cup has just finished it’s time to help the Amputee World Cup.

Update

Now the England Amputee team will get to travel to the World Cup with support from thousands of advocates who refused to let their dreams go before the games kicked off. However, while this may have caused a lot of public support it also shared the lack of general support in disability sports, but a massive question now is whether England will have to fight for funding again if they want to wear the badge again?

The money has been raised. The World Cup dream is back! It’s time to bring it home!

Article written by Nailah Gajia