Well its Valantines day so lets talk the fairer sex.We have talked racism, homophobia but how about sexism, not all but in football. Around me sit more and more women, indeed looking around the crowd the female fan is no longer a surprise, no longer a look of why is she here, indeed rightly a female fan is simply a fan. So why can I only think of one femail offical, Ms Massey and even then she was the subject that saw the Sky sackings so maybe even she does not get round the sexism thing. Is it... Woman football is years behind mens so qualified candidates will also be years behind. Woman just dont want to do it. Male players will not respect them. We still are a very sexist society A bit of light debate for a cold Tuesday.
Anybody remember the name of that female commentator BBC(?) tried to push ....Had such a high screech of a voice was almost unbearable....Just didnt sound right/false excitement...she doesnt seem to be around now... Other women can carry it off but it should be always based on Can you do the job?.....There was always one lass who could play when we were kids...."Margy Rose...shes a good player ye kna.....I can see her now...lovely ball control
They seem to fast-track male members ie Oliver and Clattenburg, so why not women. Is it a case of she is the only one who is qualified to operate in the Premier League. To many questions, so few answers. From what i've seen of Ms Massey she appears to be up with the play, which is something the supposed better officials should take note of. I have no doubt that she is more than capable of refereeing a game in the Premier League, but will the powers that be give her the green light. As regards the players themselves there will be those who seek to undermine her, but a swift yellow card will work wonders. I hope she makes it.
You need to have word with Osca before discussing sexism on here Syd. He's letting the side down! [video=youtube;u8oZSKs7DPE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8oZSKs7DPE&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
there is pleantly of female football fans out there, there is football hoasts, football commentators and football refs what we need is a female coach but that is years away
Things looking up for women's football - a two tier super league is being introduced in 2014: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17026599
I think that the increase of women attending football matches is 100% positive - the crowds are as passionate as ever but without a lot of the stupidity that went along with matches in the past. I still remember blokes p155ing down the back of my legs in the Fulwell End back in the day - with women around that is much less likely to happen as blokes generally tend to behave themselves a lot more. We are starting to see a lot more women in the board room and in key positions in clubs where they can undertake roles as well as any man, again that is positive. I do however agree that we are still a long way off seeing women regularly acting as officials or on the management side - given the positive impact they have had elsewhere in the game then hopefully this is something that will change in the years to come.
Good topic Syd! I think there will always be a bit of a you don't know what you are talking about because you are a woman from some but that is really unfair. I work with a lass who is Citeh mental (Literally) and she will happily discuss games/players/tactics with the best of them. Think their cause is not helped by the ladette "fan" in the pub who is trying to impress blokes rather than genuinely loving football (You can say the same about the prawn sandwich eater though for blokes). I can't think of one reason why women would not make fantastic officials and lets face it they can not do worse. As for the womens game... some really good players but my observation is the goalies are too short and the pitches are too large (for some players). I think reducing the goal size (Only 6 inches or so.. can make all the difference ) and shortening the pitches would allow for prospective fans to better appreciate the undoubted talent on show. Get more fans then get more player then get more refs.
As Siddall points out, women's football is certainly on the up and has came a long way in recent decades.... I don't see any physical reason why there shouldn't be more female referees, and feel that now the ice has been broken, we will see more and more in the coming years...
I persoanly think that when it comes to controling the players a woman ref would be far better than a man. Men, even the rather uncouth ones dont like to have a go at a woman and woman certainly know how to handle a man, no not in that way. It would be strange at first but like everything in life, after the initial shock it would become the norm. Mind you, just to widen it, how many black refs do we have?
True enough and there is a very long list of qualified people there but as you say scant few make it through. Seems football a more closed shop that you would think?
I haven't discussed my homophobia on here!!!!! As for women officials I'm all for them, there is no reason in the world they shouldn't be allowed to officiate imho. As long as they have done the ironing, made the tea and sandwiches for the half time snack.
