A very subjective look into AWFC

I wanted to start this week and effectively shift from the World Cup to Arsenal Women. I really wanted to do so but I owe to you and to the universe of women’s football to mention a few things which I feel, rightly or wrongly, are my responsibility since I have a blog and claim to be an ally and active supporter of women and football. Three things stood out for me: the sexual assault at the podium, the resistance towards a woman managing a men’s squad, and Mason Greenwood. Not at all related to AWFC but the last point might be.

Literally a few minutes after the best World Cup we have ever seen… after an incredible spectacle filled with blood, sweat and tears and minutes before the lifting of the trophy, we are all reminded of just how much more we have to fight for women’s football. And apparently it wasn’t just the single incident but a collection of them… a pattern which is the MO of abusers. What incident? if you haven’t seen it, the president of the Spanish football federation was congratulating Jenni Hermoso and decided to kiss her on the lips. Now, I really cannot help you if you think that is even remotely ok. Later we came to find that the same person was seen grabbing his crotch in celebration when the final whistle went. It’s just all disgusting and wrong.

It doesn’t taint anything for me as far as what the women accomplished, but it just distracts way too much. Sadly, and I don’t want to be too clumsy when explaining myself here but this is a symptom of a massive problem and ideally we use this disgusting moment to shine a bright light into how toxic masculinity cannot be a part of the DNA of women’s football. This is not what we mean with equality… we don’t want the same things that happen in men’s football also rear their ugly heads in women’s football. We don’t. It’s the last thing any of us want and certainly not something the players deserve.

And this is one of those moments when life sucks. When evil is rewarded… the coach and federation who are hated by the players and most fans. These assholes get validation… they can continue to behave how they behave, to do what they do, to believe what they believe, and to treat women how they treat women. It’s not fair. It’s not something we just have to live with. It happens and has happened and we have to keep fighting and use these moments to change for the best. The world has seen it and now our world has to do something.

When I say our world is because I keep thinking that the more contained our ecosystem is, the better, and I get that it comes with limitations in money, exposure, marketing, representation and more. I’m not smart enough to tackle these. And by the way… the President of the federation apologized, but the damage is done.

Now, moving on to the next topic and that is the amount of negativity surrounding the news that the FA would consider Sarina to take over Southgate as manager of the men’s squad. I must say there was some support and great takes, but overall the quantity of hate, criticism and misogyny was off the charts. My take on it is not a short take, it would take a whole separate blog but the short of it is that not only is she qualified, but she’s more qualified than Gareth Southgate. Way more. She has won trophies, he hasn’t.

This idea that women have to prove themselves in the men’s game is kind of silly… I keep hearing how the men’s game is so much faster and athletic… well if Sarina can do what she does with “slow players” and “less athletic players” then imagine what she could do with the opposite? That alone should be a reason to consider her no? Also, its pretty damn simple: WE WON’T KNOW UNTIL WE TRY. Give her or Emma Hayes a chance, and see what happens and if they fail its not because they have a uterus.

Lastly… Manchester United have parted ways with Mason Greenwood, who although claims to be cleared of all charges HE WASN’T. The charges were dropped which is not the same thing. Also, the club has been very weak in their statements terrible I know, but I do applaud them for going this way. I think its a win for women supporters and women footballers as a whole. Where I mean that it might relate to arsenal women is the whole Thomas Partey thing and the things that continue to be said about him. I wonder if some players and supporters feel he needs to also leave our club. I certainly do and have for a while.

Anyways, days like today can be exhausting for us women football fans but we have to keep going. We need to keep fighting because it helps more than chanting a player’s name in the football ground.

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