Beijing: The dramatic triumph of China217;s women footballers at the Asian Cup has sparked calls on social media for equal pay, with commenters contrasting their performance with the dismal men217;s side.
Xiao Yuyi217;s stoppage-time goal clinched a remarkable 3-2 comeback win over South Korea in the final, sealing a record ninth Asian title for China.
Fans on social media were quick to contrast their stirring victory with the less successful men217;s team, who were heaped with scorn last week after a limp defeat to Vietnam ended their slim hopes of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup.
“Please hand out prize money to the women217;s team according to what the men get — equal pay for equal work!” read one widely shared post on the Twitter-like Weibo.
Another popular post said China217;s football association “leads the way in favouring men over women”.
Women “keep working hard, and the money they bring home goes towards the football association217;s hapless sons,” it added.
In China, women earn 12 percent less than men overall, according to a report last year by online recruitment firm Zhaopin.
