Argentina's soccer association has announced that the national women's league will now be granted professional status.
The association said Saturday that each of the 16 clubs of the women's top division must have at least eight professional contracts with female players. It also said the contracts must mirror those of the professional men's league.
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General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi holds up the contract to implement a plan to professionalize women's soccer during a preseason conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi, right, Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, left, sign the contract to implement a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, greets a soccer player during a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, left, and General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi, take part in a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, smiles as he poses for pictures during a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Female referees attend a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
AFA President Claudio Tapia said: "When we assumed responsibility we said we were going to oversee inclusive soccer that is gender equal, and we are demonstrating that."
General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi holds up the contract to implement a plan to professionalize women's soccer during a preseason conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Tapia said that the association will contribute 120,000 pesos (about $3,000) per month to each club to finance the contracts.
Up until now, the women's game has been played by amateur athletes who have gotten little to no money for their work on the field.
General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi, right, Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, left, sign the contract to implement a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, greets a soccer player during a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, left, and General Secretary of the Argentina's Footballers' Union (FAA) Sergio Marchi, take part in a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Claudio Tapia, president of Argentina's Soccer Federation, smiles as he poses for pictures during a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)
Female referees attend a press conference to announce the early implementation of a plan to professionalize women's soccer in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 16, 2019. Almost 90 years after men's soccer turned professional in Argentina, the women's game is still being played by amateur athletes who get little to no money for their work on the field. (AP PhotoDaniel Jayo)