Women’s football facing another revolution
We would like to be at the cinema enjoying a film, reading a book, watching a television series... but no. It can’t be done. Because at any moment, when you least expect it - boom! There will be a comment, a remark - the Luis Rubiales-type figure who is on duty will pop up to remind us that women cannot dedicate themselves solely to football, to Messi, Mbappé, Amrabat, PlayStation... Between work, family and whatever else, somehow, we always have to return to the fight.
In sports practiced by women, everything needs to be examined and overhauled, there is no other way. The salaries, the clothing, finding suitable coaches, the infrastructure... Last week, Aitana Bonmatí was crowned Women’s Player of the Year but felt that she could not deliver a typical, standard acceptance speech or dedicate the award to her family. Instead, she had to remind the world that as a society, we cannot allow such abuse of power in a work relationship. Well done Aitana Bonmatí.
All because a man in a position of power kissed a subordinate without consent and didn’t resign - his response was angry, he leaked videos, and claimed that he was the one being victimized. The same old story. Institutions are not working and common sense has been diluted. Many of the male members of the assembly applauded with complicity. And here we are again with that mixture of anger, frustration, but more than anything with a sense of pride because this time nothing is ever going to be the same. It’s over.
Under the #SeAcabó hashtag, (translated as: ‘Enough is enough’, ‘It’s over’), women’s football’s leading figures including: Alex Morgan, Leicy Santos, Beath Mead, Sofia Jakobsson, Alanna Kennedy, Deyna Castellanos, Alessia Russo and many others shared a forceful statement. “We are stronger, we are more united and determined than ever. We demand change, we demand improvements (…) Discrimination is rooted and occurs at all levels. Football must respond and rise up at this critical moment, not only in Spain but all over the world.”
Little under a year ago, 15 Spanish players made a stand - today, they are many more. Hundreds of players around the world are saying enough is enough. All of them women who have worked in and for football in their own specific fields, in silence. They saw themselves represented in the words of England coach Sarina Wiegman at last week’s UEFA awards ceremony. In front of all of European football’s senior authorities, she not only vindicated the dispute which Spain’s Women’s national team is involved in, but emphatically expressed her admiration for them, and their courage and determination.
In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to talk about such issues. We’d much prefer to dedicate ourselves to another topics, but unfortunately that’s not possible. Because as José Luis Sastre noted on Cadena SER radio program Hoy por Hoy, “Talking about this implies honoring what they have just won. Be consistent and look at the big picture, at Spain’s women’s massive achievement.” The best way to celebrate sporting success is to ensure that female soccer players can dedicate themselves to just that… by playing. Let the system eliminate the normalization of inequality and abuse. Dignity and respect are the minimum conditions that they deserve.