Football: Fighting discrimination in South Africa with particular reference to the women’s game
By Razia Mahomed, School of Law, UNISA, Pretoria, South Africa
1. Introduction
Football has long been described as ‘the beautiful game’ because of its unique ability to unite people across cultures, languages and communities.
In South Africa, that symbolism carries particular significance. From the country’s successful hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to the historic triumph of Banyana Banyana (the South African Women’s National Football Team) at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and their impressive performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, football has become a powerful source of national pride.
Yet beneath these celebrated achievements lies a more uncomfortable reality. Discrimination continues to influence who participates, who prospers and whose contributions are truly valued within South African football.
Although progress has undoubtedly been made, equality remains an unfinished project, particularly in the women’s game.
2. Progress against the odds
The continued success of Banyana Banyana has done more than add silverware to the country's football history. It has challenged long-held perceptions about women's football, inspired a new generation of players, and shown that South African women can compete with the very best when given the opportunity.
These achievements deserve recognition not simply because of the results on the pitch, but because they have often been realised despite significant structural obstacles. Public discussions surrounding the women's national team have, on several occasions, centred on disputes over contracts, bonuses, bonuses, preparation camps and playing conditions rather than solely on performances. Such issues have highlighted a broader reality: whilst women's football has grown in stature and popularity, institutional support has not always developed at the same pace.
Discrimination in South African football is, therefore, no longer confined to overt acts of exclusion.
Today, it is more likely to manifest itself through unequal opportunities, disparities in funding, inconsistent investment, limited professional pathways and unequal access to resources. These forms of discrimination are often less visible than those of the past, yet their impact on the development of the women's game is no less significant.
Importantly, this is not to suggest that South African football has stood still. The establishment of the Hollywoodbets Super League in 2021 represented a significant milestone by creating South African’s first fully professional national women’s football league, signaling a growing recognition that sustained investment in the women’s game is both necessary and overdue. These developments signal a sport moving in the right direction.
Yet progress should not be mistaken for equality. Winning continental titles and qualifying for World Cups are significant milestones, but they cannot, on their own, mask the structural challenges that continue to shape the everyday realities of many women footballers.
3. Discrimination takes many forms
When discussions about discrimination in football arise, they often focus on a single issue. In reality, discrimination is rarely one-dimensional. In South African football, gender inequality intersects with race, socioeconomic disadvantage and, in some instances, xenophobia, creating barriers that affect players, coaches and administrators in different ways.
For women footballers, gender remains the most visible challenge. Despite the success of Banyana Banyana, many players still navigate unequal opportunities compared with their male counterparts. Differences in financial support, commercial investment, access to elite training facilities and professional career pathways show that success on the pitch has not always translated into equality off it.
Race and transformation remain equally important considerations. South African football cannot be divorced from the country's history, and the legacy of apartheid continues to influence participation, access and development. Transformation initiatives have, undoubtedly, broadened opportunities at the elite level, yet they have also highlighted the importance of ensuring that transformation extends beyond representation. Sustainable progress depends upon meaningful investment in communities where talented young players often lack quality facilities, experienced coaching and regular competitive opportunities. The conversation must, therefore, move beyond numbers and focus on creating environments in which talent can genuinely flourish.
These challenges are particularly evident at the grassroots level. For many aspiring footballers, especially young girls in rural and historically disadvantaged communities, the journey to elite competition begins with significant obstacles. Limited infrastructure, inadequate playing fields, scarce resources and fewer organised development programmes can make participation difficult long before questions of selection or performance arise. If the foundations of the game remain uneven, opportunities at the highest level will inevitably reflect those inequalities.
Football has also not been immune to broader social tensions. Reports of discrimination and abuse directed at foreign African players competing in South Africa serve as a reminder that xenophobia can find its way onto the football pitch, just as it does in wider society. Such incidents undermine the values of respect, diversity and inclusion that sport seeks to promote and reinforce the need for football authorities to adopt a firm and consistent stance against all forms of discrimination.
These issues should not be viewed in isolation. A young woman from a historically disadvantaged community may encounter several barriers simultaneously: limited access to facilities, financial constraints, fewer development opportunities and persistent gender stereotypes. The cumulative effect is that discrimination becomes embedded not through a single act, but through a series of structural disadvantages that restrict opportunity over time.
Recognising these many faces of discrimination is the first step towards addressing them. South African football has already shown its power to bring people together and inspire social change; its structures must now reflect those same values, giving every player, regardless of gender, race, background or nationality, a genuine opportunity to participate and succeed.
4. The Law is clear, reality is more complicated
South Africa is not short of laws or policies that prohibit discrimination.
The Constitution firmly enshrines the right to equality and human dignity, whilst the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA) gives practical effect to these constitutional values by seeking to eliminate unfair discrimination in all spheres of society.
These principles are reinforced within football through the FIFA commitment to equality and non-discrimination, as well as the South African Football Association (SAFA) statutes and policies, which recognise inclusion, fairness and equal opportunity as fundamental values of the game.
On paper, the legal and regulatory framework appears comprehensive. Football should be a space in which talent, commitment and hard work determine success rather than gender, race, nationality or socioeconomic background. Yet the lived experiences of many players suggest that achieving equality requires more than progressive legislation and well-drafted policies.
The reality is that discrimination is often subtle and structural. It is not always reflected in an explicit rule or decision but in the opportunities that are available or unavailable to different groups of players. Questions surrounding funding, sponsorship, access to quality facilities, player development, media exposure and professional opportunities illustrate that equality cannot be measured solely by whether discrimination is prohibited. It must also be measured by whether individuals are afforded a genuine opportunity to participate, develop and excel.
A good illustration is the events preceding the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Instead of the national conversation focusing solely on the Banyana Banyana preparations for one of the biggest tournaments in world football, attention was diverted to disputes over player remuneration, contractual arrangements and training conditions. Although the issues were ultimately resolved, the episode highlighted how questions of governance and player welfare continue to overshadow the achievements of women footballers. It also demonstrated that equality is measured not only by participation in elite competitions but by the quality of support afforded to athletes before they step onto the pitch.
This is not a challenge unique to South Africa. Around the world, women's football has experienced significant growth, accompanied by increasing calls for equal investment, improved governance and fair treatment. South Africa, therefore, finds itself at an important moment. It has both the legal framework and the footballing talent to become a leader in advancing equality within the sport. The question is no longer whether discrimination is prohibited, it clearly is, but whether the football institutions are doing enough to ensure that equality is experienced by those who step onto the pitch.
Ultimately, the fight against discrimination cannot be won through legislation alone. Laws establish the standard, but it is leadership, accountability and sustained investment that transform legal principles into lived realities. If South African football is to fulfil the promise of equality embodied in its Constitution and embraced by the global football community, the commitment to inclusion must extend beyond policy documents and be reflected in every level of the game, from grassroots development to the professional arena.
5. Where do we go from here?
South African football has reached an important crossroads. The progress of recent years, reflected in the success of Banyana Banyana, the continued growth of women's football and increasing investment, shows what is possible when talent, opportunity and commitment align. The task now is to sustain that momentum and accelerate it.
Achieving meaningful equality will require more than compliance with legal obligations. It calls for a collective commitment from football administrators, clubs, sponsors, policymakers and supporters to view women's football not as a secondary product, but as an integral part of the sport's future. Investment in grassroots development, improved facilities, coaching programmes and sustainable professional opportunities should not be regarded as acts of goodwill; they are investments in the long-term growth and success of South African football.
Equally important is the need to foster a culture in which discrimination, in whatever form it appears, is neither tolerated nor ignored. Football has always had the capacity to influence society beyond the boundaries of the pitch. By embracing diversity, promoting inclusion and ensuring that opportunities are genuinely accessible to all, the sport can continue to serve as a powerful vehicle for social change.
There is also a compelling business case for equality. Around the world, women's football is no longer viewed merely as a social responsibility initiative, but as a commercially viable and rapidly expanding sector of the global sports industry. South Africa cannot afford to be left behind. Investing in women's football is not simply about correcting historical inequalities; it is about unlocking talent, expanding audiences and strengthening the future of the game.
Perhaps the greatest opportunity lies in inspiring the next generation. Every young girl, who watches Banyana Banyana, should be able to believe that her aspirations are limited only by her ability and determination, not by her gender or the community in which she grows up. That aspiration should not be viewed as idealistic; it should be regarded as the benchmark against which the success of South African football is measured.
Football has often been described as ‘the beautiful game’ because of its unique ability to bring people together. That description carries with it a responsibility. A game that unites communities should also create opportunities that are fair, inclusive and accessible to all. South African football has already demonstrated what can be achieved when barriers begin to fall. The next chapter should be about ensuring that equality is no longer celebrated as an achievement but accepted as the standard. When that happens, the women's game and South African football, as a whole, will be stronger for it.
6. Conclusions
The fight against discrimination in South African football is far from over, but neither is it without hope. The remarkable achievements of Banyana Banyana and the growing profile of the women's game demonstrate what can be accomplished when talent is nurtured and opportunities begin to emerge.
Yet, lasting change will require more than celebrating success on the international stage. It demands a sustained commitment to equality in every aspect of the game, from grassroots development and governance to investment, professional opportunities and leadership.
Football has the unique ability to unite people across differences and inspire future generations. By ensuring that every player, regardless of gender, race, background or nationality, has an equal opportunity to participate and thrive, South African football can honour not only the spirit of the game but also the constitutional values upon which the country is built.
Progress has been made, but the true victory will come when equality is no longer viewed as an aspiration, but as the standard by which the game is played.
If football truly is ‘the beautiful game’, its beauty must be measured not only by the goals that are scored or the trophies that are won, but by the opportunities that it creates for everyone who dreams of playing it.
Razia Mahomed may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
