WORLD CUP 2018
Miss Colombia used for Adidas shirt launch angers football team
While James Rodríguez was selected to represent the men's team, the clothes giant elected model, and Miss Universe 2014, Paulina Vega, instead of a player.
The selection of who to put inside the official World Cup 2018 shirt of the Colombian women's team for its launch has received quite a backlash. While Bayern Munich and national star, James Rodriguez was chosen to represent the men's side, kit manufacturer Adidas ignored the female footballers and instead went with Paulina Vega, model and winner of Miss Universe 2014.
Along with the publicity shot Paulina Vega wrote: "The new Colombian shirt empowers me. Ready to support them again in Russia."
Complaints from inside the team
Vanessa Córdoba, current goalkeeping star of the Colombian national team, and daughter of legendary goalkeeper Óscar Córdoba, showed her dissatisfaction with the decision when she initially posted on social media: "I still haven't seen a single player of the Colombian national team showing off the new Adidas shirt. Have you?"
A short time afterwards she followed up with more of a reflection: "The Colombian women players should also be included, this is their new outfit, they will run in it, not only the men.
"I appreciate that for publicitity reasons they prefer to give it to Paulina Vega but in terms of respect and merit the players deserved it too."
"I don't agree that Paulina Vega should wear the shirt before Catalina Usme, for example, or Daniel Montoya, Yoreli Rincón, Diana Ospina, Sandra Sepúlveda, Leicy Santos, etc."
Vanessa came back to post a summary of her view following many exchanges across social media:
"MANY THANKS to all the people who have participated in this discussion about the new Colombian shirt. It has been an enriching experience to be able to read and listen to other points of view. My only feeling towards the women of our country, and the rest of the world (athletes or not), is respect and admiration because we are in this together. I'm glad you have been able to be across this subject and I hope this grain of sand serves to mold our society. We wear this shirt for the love of a country so let's do what it represents: TOGETHERNESS, EQUALITY and FAIRNESS!"
Colombia national team response
The official Twitter account of the Colombian women's team also made their point although the tweet was later deleted:
"The women in our national team are in our heart. Their anger is justified. Adidas made a mistake which we're sure they'll rectify. Our new shirt is a symbol of unity!"
