Category: WOMEN’S FOOTBALL

THIS INVOLVES ALL LADIES FOOTBALL LEAGUES ACROSS THE GLOBE MAJORLY SPAIN’S PRIMERA DIVISION AND ENGLAND’S WOMEN SUPER LEAGUE. EXCEPT THE KENYA WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE

Northern Ireland women’s national team boss Shiels apologises after ’emotional imbalance’ comments

Tuesday’s 5-0 defeat in front of a record crowd at Windsor Park led to eye-raising comments from the hosts’ coach

Northern Ireland women’s national team boss Kenny Shiels has apologised for his comments suggesting that female players struggle with an “emotional imbalance” compared to their male counterparts.

Shiels’ side was thrashed 5-0 by England in front of a record crowd at Windsor Park, sparking controversial comments from their coach that suggested their lack of composure came down to their gender.

Shiels’ words have been widely condemned in the subsequent period and now the ex-Kilmarnock and Derry City boss has expressed his regret over what he said.

What has been said?
“I wish to apologise for my comments made in the post-match press conference last night. I am sorry for the offence that they have caused,” Shiels said on Wednesday.

“Last night was a special occasion for the women’s game in Northern Ireland and I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country.

“I am an advocate for the women’s game and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to flourish.”What happened?
Shiels’ controversial words came in the wake of a humiliating defeat for his side in front of a record crowd in Belfast, as the Lionesses put their neighbours to the sword in a five-goal thrashing.

His analysis was met with an immediate backlash across the game, with former Arsenal and England star Ian Wright brandishing him as “foolish” for bringing gender into the conversation.

Former Arsenal and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne also slammed the comments, telling Off the Ball: “I’d be surprised if he is the manager for the next game to be honest.

“You can’t discriminate like that, it’s the one thing you don’t need in women’s football when it’s on the momentum, the trajectory (it is).”

Northern Ireland will face England again at this summer’s European Championship, with the pair drawn alongside Austria and Northern Ireland in the group stages.

Manchester City’s WSL resurgence continues with win at West Ham

Khadija Shaw celebrating her goal against West Ham

Manchester City’s hopes of qualifying for the Women’s Champions League received a major boost as they won 2-0 at West Ham.

Georgia Stanway opened the scoring for Gareth Taylor’s side by finding the bottom corner of the net with eight minutes gone.

Seventh-placed West Ham, though, can be testing opponents under their the New Zealand coach, Olli Harder, – they beat City in the reverse fixture – and they dug in, albeit benefiting from some City wastefulness and a fine display from the home goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold.

West Ham briefly threatened, with Claudia Walker heading over and then denying her own team a golden opportunity by touching the ball when offside instead of leaving it to teammate Adriana Leon to run through on goal.

City were never sure of the victory until the second goal arrived on the hour mark when Khadija Shaw made it 2-0 with a clinical header.

City’s win, their seventh consecutive victory in all competitions, put them level on points with third-placed Manchester United. The top three qualify for next season’s Champions League and four WSL games remain.

The two sides face each other again in the FA Women’s Cup semi-final on 16 April.