Matthew Hall
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Football is A Girl's Game?
Ladies, please stay in the kitchen.
That was one suggestion to last week's discussion here on the evolution of women's football in Australia.
It was not a lone voice. Similarly, a few "fan" discussion boards have received comments during the week with similar sentiment, maybe lonely boys trolling for attention.
Female sport it seems - yes, even in Australia - has a long way to go before it earns any respect from a wide audience.
Apparently a lot of this is because watching Australia play Canada in the Women's World Cup is not the same as watching a Premier League match.
Well, good morning!
Women are not as strong as their male counterparts, not as fast, and for the most part, do not have the same raw talent as many males.
Hold the back page and call the fire department.
It may come as a shock that women's football is played in different way to men.
But that doesn't detract from drama, entertainment or admiring the drive of Lisa De Vanna.
In some places, football is forbidden for women.
This Al Jazeera report on women's football in Egypt quotes guys saying they would forbid their fiancee from playing football.
"It could also distract her from her home," says one, with a straight face and with views not that different from some of his Australian counterparts.
The report also explains that female referees have an extra challenge when taking charge of men's games.
One theory is that a lot of men don't take too kindly to being "ruled" or "judged" by women.
(That said, Brazilian assistant ref Ana Paula de Oliveira didn't do herself any favours by posing in Playboy magazine. Or maybe she did.)
Women's football, it seems, is a perfect act of rebellion, even subversion. It provides an opportunity to give two fingers to how some people perceive the world to be.
Which maybe makes it the perfect sport for young and impressionable girls.
The Matildas are effectively amateur athletes and unlikely to collect many big buck commercial deals from their exploits in China.
While Jose Mourinho was paid around $30 million as part of his severance package from Chelsea and many Socceroos have become millionaires from football, the Matildas do it for free.
This is what makes them so appealing.
Thea Slatyer told me after the game against Canada last week that being full-time and earning money from the game would mean the team might be able to compete against the top teams on a more even footing.
"I would love it if Australia could afford to take us on full time," she said. "If we had a system like the Americans, where full time football is all they do, we would be a much better team than we are today."
"We are juggling full-time and part-time jobs on the side. That says a lot about us as a team and our ability. But the reality is that it's not that way, unfortunately."
But the Matildas' status as girls-next-door is just what makes them perfect role models for young women.
These girls are driven by their passion for the sport, not money.
Their performances lack diving, cheating, and feigning injury.
There have been no complaints about conditions in China.
And, as one post on a discussion board suggested sarcastically, unlike men they spend entire games worrying about their hair.
The Matildas have an innocence that recalls Socceroos teams from days long gone, when players were part-timers, playing for pride, and not having to put contracts with European clubs ahead of the national team.
Like Australian rules and both rugby codes, there's a guarantee that administrators of womens' sport - like netball - are very nervous watching football's unrestrained blossoming popularity.
But first, the sport in Australia faces challenges both similar, and not so, to that suggested in the Al-Jazeera clip.
So, men of Australia, lighten up a little.
This is all about the grass roots. The land is fertile and Football Federation Australia and state governing bodies will want to make sure they keep their grass watered.
The women demand it and let's not get them upset.
But that's enough about female sporting distractions.
There's dishes to wash, laundry to be cleaned, kids to feed, and dinner to be cooked.
Oh, and Man U v Chelsea is on the TV too.
COMMENTS
Girls and women who play football are beautiful in many ways - graceful, intelligent, thoughtful, accomplished at all the rts whether domestic, intellectual, athletic (and/or a combination of all these!). Girls and women who play football - or engage in ANY sport at all - improve the world for all boys and men, adding to the fun and joy of life and of all human activities! Besides, if girls and women (females all) play football, then the game can't help it --- it has immediately become FEMININE!!
- by Helen Bailey Bayly on September 23, 2007 at 02:17 AM
I have just watched England vs USA and saw one of the England players get her nose broken in the first half and finish the full 90mins with tissue stuffed up one nostril. Who says they're not as tough as the men? Ronaldo would have been crying like a baby.
- by Ruby T on September 23, 2007 at 02:44 AM
These women are exactly the role models young girls need. Not pathetic it girls who are only famous for looking good and who they sleep with, nor the footballers wives who make a living on the husbands careers. Good on these girls and if more people promoting women in sport at this level then maybe you would see it coming through at grass roots too. Well done girls you are an inspiration...if only sponsors and companies would put their money your way.
- by jane westwood on September 23, 2007 at 07:59 AM
I can't believe we're even having this discussion in Australia. Wow.
- by Rex on September 23, 2007 at 08:05 AM
I have been watching soccer and the world cup matches since the tender age of 6. Over the years, have deplored the ever so slow and gradual degradation of soccer as played by men at a world level in the last 10 years or so (due to cheating, drug use, overpaid players who fake injuries, etc).
It wasn't until this year that I dared watch a soccer match played by women at world level. And I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to see the high quality of the soccer being played by women (even taking into consideration that they were not as strong as men, etc).
Your article thankfully filled in many blanks I had about female soccer players, what they were earning, etc.
My admiration for the sport was rekindled as a result. I felt that the Mathildas - as well as the players for all other countries playing at the China World Cup - were truly playing just for the joy of playing and for the honour of representing their countries.
I propose that a parade be organised in their honour when they come back home, irrespective of the outcome of their involvement at the China World Cup?
Anyone wants to second this proposal with me?
PS: Where can I send notes of encouragement to the players ahead of their match against Brazil tonight?
- by Michael J on September 23, 2007 at 08:46 AM
I think the Matildas are playing great football....but where is the coverage of this in the media? How can so many papers devote so many pages to mens football (yawn) and so little to womens sport? When the Socceroos made it to the world cup quarter finals it was front page and all over the place. Thanks for giving us something here...but as for the rest of the media -hang your chauvinistic heads in shame. Lets start seeing some equality in sports reporting. Sport is not something that just guys do.
- by Sandy on September 23, 2007 at 08:53 AM
Any body no matter sex, race or whatever should be able to enjoy the thrill and desire to play what ever sport they want.
I would suport my daughter wish if she desired to play football or basketball.
Get with the times
- by Gregory Earl McLeod on September 23, 2007 at 09:11 AM
I dont think men's soccer/football is real soccer/football anyway - it is too full of theatricals and violence! fair play used to be the reason for team sports being morale builders and it was as much about co-operation as competition. Nowadays its about the individual and winning (irrespective of how that occurs). The deliberate violence that occurs on the field is outrageous.
I used to play soccer with the Marsfield Panthers when I was about 10 (1962) - we wore the same gear and had the same rules and the same coach as the boys teams. Then some control freak came along and said we couldnt use the Panthers name as some team out west wanted it (we became the Marsfield Bluebells!!) and we had to stop wearing the boots (sandshoes instead!) but we could wear the socks (gee - thanks!!). That was the last time we played - we were shunted aside and none of us wanted to play soccer under the new rules and conditions. As 10 years olds we were really angry but powerless to do anything. Most of us went over to basketball - and then they did the same thing, we couldnt dribble the ball on the field. I gave it up and focused on swimming and running.
- by Lynn Thomas on September 23, 2007 at 09:13 AM
Dear smh
you make it very difficacult to lodge an opinioin without giving personal detail away. ..... people dont like that
&
ur new website design sux I now read news.com.au
- by real on September 23, 2007 at 09:17 AM
It was Faye White (England) who had her nose broken in the first half, got up and carried on playing. She has also gone through two knee reconstructions in recent years. There is dedication for you from a player who plays for the love of the game.
There has been some great soccer played so far at the World Cup and it will only get better. Its true, I've noticed there has been no diving, no swarming around the ref with pushing and shoving, no spitting and no rolling around after a tackle acting like they've just been hit by a ten ton truck (if really injured a player wouldnt be moving)
Men who complain and say women should 'stay in the kitchen' are probably the ones who were beaten at soccer by a girl in the park when they were 12 years old and still havent come to terms with it.
- by Jules on September 23, 2007 at 09:34 AM
Well, I for one don't think that Women's football (or other sports for that matter) are less serious than sport played by men. The only thing I don't like is Netball and that is not the fact that it is mostly played by women than the game itself. I just don't enjoy watching it.
Yesterday I went to my daughter's football game which was the Under-14's Division 3 final for Brisbane. It was a tremendous game and the girls on both teams played great football.
Our girls eventually lost due to an error in the final moments in added time. The exceptional part was that all the girls of our team went up to console the distraught girl that made the error. I don't ever remember seeing that in a men's game ever.
None of the girls were bitter about losing and my daughter just said that she was happy to be there and had fun playing. Frankly that captures what the true spirit of football (and other games for that matter) should be.
- by Mark Harrison on September 23, 2007 at 09:47 AM
Thank God as women we do everything differently to men; including playing football. Just read Micheal Carlton's piece in this Saturday's Herald to be reminded how absolutely disgusting men are.
What I find just as deplorable are those women who wash the clothes of the "Rovers" and similar.
All power to the few men who speak out against other male nastiness.
By the way I would be proud to wash any of the Matilida's uniforms.
Go grlls.
- by Jude on September 23, 2007 at 10:41 AM
Great article and good comments.
However, get realistic - women's football will always remain somewhat marginalised as it is not the height of skill which EPL is. Even the A-league is viewed with little respect compared to the big leagues.
Having said that I have no problem with women playing - go do it and enjoy yourselves!! But there is no reason for complaints about money not being paid etc etc.. that's the reality if 99% of sportspeople
- by Realistic on September 23, 2007 at 11:18 AM
im a football fan myself , i had more fun watching the womens than the mens world cup ,the girls have as much talent as the boys! people should relise this,GO THE MATILDAS!!!
- by indi on September 23, 2007 at 12:03 PM
I think the Matildas have been a revelation.
Their determination, tenacity and skill is just as impressive as the Socceroos were in their world cup.
The women may not be as fast or as strong as the guys but that doesn't mean it's much (if any) less entertaining. If anything the extra time on the ball that the women get lends itself to more fluid passages of play.
Go Matildas!
- by Peter Pan on September 23, 2007 at 12:23 PM
I agree with Rex....I can't believe we're having this discussion in Australia in 2007. Then again, after reading that rather condescending blog of Matthew Hall's, I can see our problem. Women's sport has so little support and recognition in this country. The only team getting any regular coverage is the netball team on ABC. We have world-class (and world-beating) women's hockey, soccer, equestrian, rugby, beach volleyball, softball, touch football...the list is pretty endless. We are a SPORT nation. It's appalling that in 2007 female athletes still have to either strip naked, or have 'personality' to get enough sponsorship to play fulltime. You don't see male athletes having to perform off the field to get the dollars.
Since most male athletes are incredibly boring I can only say thank god for that!
- by Nadia on September 23, 2007 at 12:26 PM
The ethnic issues surrounding women's football are quite interesting. When you compare the ethnic background of HAL and Socceroos teams with the Matildas, the Matildas are a helluva lot more Anglo-Celtic. Why is that? Is it because there's a cultural view among non-Anglo Celts that girls shouldn't play soccer?
- by Stephen on September 23, 2007 at 12:37 PM
Watching the Matildas progress has been a real pleasure - and for sheer guts, excitement and entertainment value they have left watching the Wallabies and the Australian cricket teams (at their respective world cups) languishing well behind. They deserve a greater audience and recognition than they are currently getting. Good luck to the girls against Brazil tonight!
- by Stephen on September 23, 2007 at 12:49 PM
Congrats tp the the Matildas - they've been a quick, skillful breath of fresh air for Australian sport. BTW - the Australia vs Norway and Australia vs Canada matches were MUCH more exciting and enjoyable than anything Sydney FC has dished up so far this season - let alone anything from boring, boring Chelsea.
- by kywong73 on September 23, 2007 at 01:07 PM
I played Australian Rules for 20 years and don't have sons, but I do have a 14 yo daughter who is a soccer nut and currently playing a tournament in Honolulu for her school (Carey). I have become deeply involved in soccer and administration of girls and women's soccer.
Women's soccer is played differently to men's soccer and is more straightforward without the fancy moves, but this is also the same with mem's and women's basketball. Neverthless it is enjoyable and the Matildas have been fantastic and I feel as proud of them as I did for the Socceroos last year.
Despite what anyone says, to play a sport at the elite level and represent your country is the ultimate and I salute the Matildas and can't wait for the next match.
- by Mike Mack on September 23, 2007 at 02:51 PM
God I hate men's sport, they should stay in the tool shed where they belong.
- by jill on September 23, 2007 at 03:20 PM
never loved soccer, my wife does, and dragged me thru all the Mens world cup, and it was painful, theatrical, slow, and boring!! Then I watched the recent Womens football, whenever it was shown, and now I see something. Not just Australia's team, but ALL the teams play flat out, and great action, and makes the "men" look like the ninnies they seem to be, Over paid and definitely overrated. Great football girls, all of you!! Put the party dumb Beckhams back in their box, one kick and a sore ankle for weeks....Yeah???
- by Geoff Ellis on September 23, 2007 at 03:31 PM
I would like to see a women's national professional league running alongside the A League. I want to go to the soccer and see a junior game, a women's game and an A League game all on the same card. Make a day of it, they do in Rugby League.
- by roy law on September 23, 2007 at 03:37 PM
If the Socceroos played with the same level of committment, love of the game and pride in the shirt that our Matildas do EVERY GAME they would be unstoppable.
Our girls are an example of everything which all our sports teams should aspire to. No-one complains or makes excuses about the weather and everyone gives 110% all the time. Best of all they do it with a smile on their face and win friends wherever they go.
If a small section of the male population thinks they deserve anything other than our total admiration and absolute support then they're an idiot and should grow up. Rex is right on the money. This is Australia. This is 2007. We're EQUALS.
Go on Aussie girls. Good luck against Brazil. Make us proud!
- by Millsy on September 23, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Well I am very female and all for women playing whatever sport they like. But I have to say I don't care for it. Females trying to be males - they take it off the field too! I have watched some of my friends in their 30's who are playing soccer and it is a culture that is so like that of mens ball sports. The amount of alcohol they consume is staggering not to mention some of the questionable sexual conduct (again I am not against homosexuals it just seems soccer does attract lesbians). They all tend to live in each others pockets and I offend feel the odd one out at their functions simply because I haven't joined the soccer click.
Yes I agree the game is one of skill but I am all for the feminine women and you would never get me into that butch uniform to holler on a field pretending to be matcho. There are plenty of other sports out there for women where skill is the order of the day and you can still be feminine when it is all over.
I wish all those women out there playing soccer best wishes and my view is not intended to offend it is purely a personal one.
- by feminine all over on September 23, 2007 at 05:34 PM
REalistic,
What a load of rubbish. Why should we see mens' skill level as the only skill level used to judge comparisons by. It doesn't matter what sport it is, and it doesn't matter how good women are there is still sexism and prejudice in all areas of womens participation in life. It's attitudes like yours that keep women from being able to get the resources the resources to play at the very best they could. Perhaps if there was a womens league we would see more time devoted to being able to develop skills and less time having to work to pay the rent. Devana plays as well as any male soccer player and better than others.
- by Forensic on September 23, 2007 at 06:17 PM
The match against Brazil is live on SBS tonight. Don't miss it, it should be good.
- by Peter on September 23, 2007 at 06:17 PM
well, I have been playing soccer for over 10 yrs - my peers were girls who played for Australia, while my story might be a give away to some, I have never felt happier playing this beautiful sport.. while the mens league is the most popular - I would love to see the day when the women have just as much coverage..
The matildas and those up and comers whom I still am able to witness play are so skilled, passionate and committed to achieving.. and they do.. I really hope everything goes well for the matildas - they deserve and watch what happens if they win this next round and god bless win the comp - can you imagine the uprising!
remember what happened to the socceroos when they qualified.. whether you like a sport or not - when under achievers ACHIEVE something happens within people that makes them sit up... the stupid thing is.. THEY NEED TO SIT UP NOW, some of the most amazing soccer is being played!
I know the coach and met all the girls earlier this year and they are fantastic people, with such a drive and passion and they work hard to be where they are - they really do play because they love it and they keep going no matter how many knock downs they get..
my story revolves a little around my own family not wanting me to play the sport - they made me quit at my peak, stating soccer was not a females sport, mind you my next year I was going to get paid to play, and paid was $10 a game which was a lot back then - to even get paid!! was significant - however it did not matter to my middle eastern parents.. anyhow I had a few years off. lost my fitness and agility, now I play for enjoyment and holding onto that place where I feel most myself..
who knows where i could have ended up if i kept going..
I wish matildas well and hope all those mothers and fathers out there let their daughters play this awesome sport.
- by Miss Soccer on September 23, 2007 at 06:38 PM
Jude, What did you find offensive about Mike Carlton's piece in the Herald this week?
I'm utterly mystified...
- by Mark Harrison on September 23, 2007 at 06:41 PM
When men have to look after kids, cook, wash, clean, shop, iron, be fulltime diplomat, nurse, teacher, factotem, then they'll realise what the real world is about. Women could fit in a marathon at the end of a day's work and call it relaxation.
Stamina, guys, not ego! Get real!
- by matilda too on September 23, 2007 at 08:36 PM
Dear "real" glad you have gone to news.com.au. It was great to see the Fairfax papers (the SMH in particular) giving extensive coverage to the Matildas this weekend. Their News Limited equivalent (the weekend Australian) didn't even have a paragraph devoted to this great team.
One day the news services will understand the need to cover important events, not just ones that we are traditionally good at
Why the Twenty20 cricket recieves so much coverage I'll never know. On a world scale the Womens World Cup is arguably the most important sporting event on at the moment (even accounting for the Rugby).
- by Chris J on September 23, 2007 at 08:49 PM
I am a male and come from the Netherlands. I love football (soccer doesn't exist in Europe). I have enjoyed the game enormously. Of course it is a girls' game as long as girls play it. I look forward to some good aussie rules girls' matches, and hope that they get the coverage they deserve. Australia is not male dominated anymore. The media should acknowledge that.
- by Rene Out on September 23, 2007 at 09:16 PM
Nadia,
I think you missed the point of Matt's blog this week AND last. They are not condescending in any way, shape or form. In fact, the opposite. He argues the same points as you made but with a sense of humour. Shame you couldn't see that.
- by Kate on September 23, 2007 at 10:31 PM
bad luck girls, 1 unstoppable goal from brazil was the difference, so hold your heads high, it was an awesome game to watch. Hope you all get your pro league sooner rather than later so we can have a better shot in 4yrs. You've done everyone proud, hopefully the rest of australia takes notice and gets behind you!!
- by bungchow on September 23, 2007 at 11:57 PM
i'l just add too id be elated to be lucky enough to stay at home and cook, wash dishes and uniforms for any of these lovely, humble, hardworking women!!
- by bungchow on September 24, 2007 at 12:08 AM
My daughter (and 3 sons) all play football and she is representing the Riverina in the U12 State titles in Dubbo in a couple of weeks. She is really enjoying the World Cup and has photos of the Matildas from various websites plastered all over her bedroom wall. The Matildas are a great role model for her and all the young girls who play football.The SBS coverage has been fantastic and the thrill she is getting from seeing the women play (including one from our own town) is just what she needs to prove to the doubters at her school both male and female that footbal is a great game for everybody and truly is the world game.
The Matildas have done Australia proud.
- by Andrew on September 24, 2007 at 12:15 AM
I agree with Michael J .. honour Mathilda with the welcome parade they deserve .. especially after their game against Brazil.
- by Adrian H on September 24, 2007 at 12:35 AM
Soccer attracts maybe-lesbian women who are trying to act like men. 'Feminine all over', your comments may be your personal views (whose aren't?) but they're part of this blog now. I would ask you to please elaborate on what this 'femininity' looks like, but I'm afraid of what we'd get. But you may have tapped into another reason why the women's soccer (and women's sport in general) is not as publicly supported, funded, and celebrated at the professional level in Australia - homophobia. Many of the women I play with (who bring their kids to the games) are heterosexual. Some may be gay - I'm not sure - but if they are, perhaps sport was a place growing up where they could be themselves and enjoy something without fear. My 'personal view' is that your comments are embarrassingly backwards.
- by Victoria on September 24, 2007 at 01:46 AM
To feminine-I am completely hetrosexual and have played womens soccer for 17 years. I have played in several teams (UK, Australia, NZ) and yes, there are lesbians who play soccer but not every team has lesbians in it..its not a requirement, most players I know are married with kids or have boyfriends. Just to point out, not all lesbians are butch either. I personally dont care if my team mates are gay or straight as long as they can play soccer. As to living in each others pockets, I think you will find a lot of sport teams are like this, male or female, you tend to form a close bond with your team mates on and off the field..most clubs I've played for promote team bonding sessions as it produces a better performance on the field. Binge drinking is on the rise in general, that is a fact and I'm pretty sure that playing soccer doesnt suddenly make you a binge drinker, just have a look in town on a saturday night, there are plenty of 'feminine' women binge drinking and picking up men. Most womens teams play on a sunday, trust me, having a drinking session on a saturday night is the last thing you want when you are going to be running around a pitch for 90 minutes the next day.
I'm not trying to be male, far from it, I'm just being me, last I heard, we were in the 21st century and women are no longer told how to act or think by men..you might want to try it
- by Jules on September 24, 2007 at 03:09 AM
As an American, I clearly don't consider soccer to be a male sport at all. If anything, it seems to me that women bring to the sport a grace that its male players lack. Perhaps some of this comes from its lower profile here, injecting it with less money and thus less corruption. Still, they seem much better role models generally than most athletes. Sports in the U.S. have largely become battles between genetic freaks on drugs. The only question is when cyborgs will be welcomed into the fold.
As the sexual dimorphism of our species manifests most notably in a relative lack of upper body strength among women, soccer is a logical outlet for them. Women also tend to have superior stamina.
Maybe I just like seeing fit (but normal and with other larger interests beyond sports) women running down the field. If that's some kind of twisted machismo, then so it is.
- by Jeremy on September 24, 2007 at 04:33 AM
If some women want to play rugby let them play . So bloody what? What they do with their time and their bodies is their business.
- by guy rippingale on September 24, 2007 at 05:23 AM
Ladies, please stay in the kitchen.
Mr Hall, who is in the kitchen at your home ? ....................................... Kitchen is a German word for Jail.
- by KruegerzehGerman on September 28, 2007 at 12:28 AM
slt ca va a tout
- by aminee on November 25, 2007 at 12:59 AM
i dont think men should just think women only belong in the kitchen. women are just as good as men and are just as dedicated on their sports career. so all you men who think your so good think again becase sometime in the near future a girl will beat you out !!!!
- by courtney on December 06, 2007 at 05:13 AM
Well Ill telll use all IF men can play rugby then so can Girls.
If girls train as hard as boys they are equal.
Boys just big note themselfes im not been mean or anythink but I truely think Girls could play Rugby no matter what we are just not in this word to "Stay in kitchens" and feed the MEN
Thanks chloe HEHE :D
- by Chloe on March 27, 2008 at 05:40 PM
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I find it amazing that these marvelous women are see for the figures they provide in their uniforms. the football they play is at a very high standard and yes when they get home there is a career to continue and a house hold to run. these men need to pull their heads in as they could not play football half as good as these great women. this is 2007 men wake up to yourselves! and put a load of washing on while your at it!