Women’s football is being ignored during coronavirus crisis – we must close the gap

WOMEN’S football is simply being ignored amid the coronavirus crisis.
Whenever I switch on the television the updates are all about the male players, so I checked in with the girls to see how they’re coping.

England legend Alex Scott (inset) says women’s football is being ignored during the coronavirus crisis

I have spoken to  Arsenal’s Leah Williamson and Jordan Nobbs and Lyon’s Lucy Bronze.
We all agreed football comes second and there are far more important issues going on at  the moment.
But the coronavirus crisis has highlighted the huge disparities between the men’s and women’s games.

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When the US women’s national team are fighting for equality everyone thinks they are going on about money.
It’s so much more than that.
Situations like this virus highlight just how far female footballers are from being treated on a par with men.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta hit the headlines when he contracted Covid-19 three weeks ago and his squad were put into self-isolation.
The women’s team use the same training ground and it is likely they would have come into contact with Arteta and the men’s team — yet there has been no announcement on how it affected the women’s team.

It’s frustrating that some clubs haven’t bothered to sort out their female stars with fitness equipment.

Alex Scott

We’ve also got to remember that a lot of the female footballers, especially foreign players, share digs together.
Women’s Super League clubs have a duty to look after those girls because some of them have been left in limbo and unsure whether they can leave the UK to be with their families.
If players show symptoms, are clubs sorting out medical attention? Or are they just leaving them to self-isolate?

The girls are staying positive and utilising their time in the best way they can.
However, it’s frustrating that some clubs haven’t bothered to sort out their female stars with fitness equipment.
That has forced female players at the highest level to take to social media and  ask to borrow gym gear.
England and Arsenal star Beth Mead, who is recovering from a knee injury, tweeted: “In need of a watt bike during this difficult time. Currently rehabbing my knee so can’t run so one of these is needed. If anyone can help please reach out.”
Brighton have set a brilliant example by supplying their first-team players with a bike and exercise equipment — just like the men’s team. Now it’s time for other WSL clubs to step up.

Hope Powell’s Brighton side have been kitted out with exercise bikes just like the men’s teamCredit: PA:Press Association

The top two flights of women’s football were suspended on March 13 until at least April 30.
I don’t think there is an answer as to what should happen to the league until the nation has control over the crisis we’re in.
I’ve been doing Spanish lessons and making Tik Tok dance videos to lighten the mood and the WSL girls are the same.
They’re not complaining, they are keeping a positive mindset and getting stuff done.

I admire them all because they’re not sitting there saying, ‘Oh, poor me’, they’re just readjusting to this crazy situation and finding ways to keep chugging along.
Manchester City’s Jill Scott has been posting brilliant videos of training drills on social media for youngsters to keep their skills up.
Life has been put on pause but female footballers are still finding brilliant ways to connect with  girls and boys.

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk