Footballer Alisha Lehmann calls out gender pay gap in sport
18 September 2024 19:03
Alisha Lehmann, a Swiss footballer, openly discusses the salary disparities between her and her partner, Douglas Luiz. The couple departed from Aston Villa to join Juventus this summer.
25-year-old Alisha Lehmann moved to Turin for a salary of approximately £194,000 per year, while 26-year-old Luiz earns about £99,000 per week.
In an interview with "La Gazzetta dello Sport" Lehmann highlighted the differences in salaries between male and female players.
After training, I often tell Douglas that it's unfair. We do the same job, but he earns 100,000 times more than me. It’s something that affects me because I’m a woman. Obviously, there's still a long way to go on the path we're on because there may never be equal pay - says Lehmann.
The footballer also revealed how unfair criticism of women’s football affects her.
If someone comes to me with jokes, I always ask them 'have you ever seen a match?' Probably not, because when you see a match you realise how good and passionate we are - she explains.
"The most beautiful footballer in the world". She is a hit on the internet
Despite her immense popularity on Instagram, where 17 million people follow her, Lehmann emphasized that she does not live a luxurious life.
I don't live like a star, but like everyone else. When people see you on social media they think you live a different life, but that's not the case. I live a normal life. I go home, I cook, I do the same things as everyone else. Of course, it's nice when people recognise you on the street - she explains.
Alisha Lehmann was born in 1999. At 18, she made her debut in the national team. In 2018, she signed a contract with West Ham United, and her career took off.
Alisha’s sister is Shona Lehmann. The 25-year-old is very similar to her sister, and their joint photos attract more fans to the older sister’s profile. At the moment, she is followed by just under 90,000 people.