FEMALE football star Gabriella Howell has inspirationally opened up on the vile sexist abuse she receives online from trolls.
The 22-year-old hit back by saying she can “play football and likes wearing high heels”.
Howell plays for Sutton United Women’s team, but has been targeted by vile trolls on social media Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyhowell/
Howell opened up on the sexist comments directed at her on social media Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyhowell/ Tottenham fan Howell has been playing football since she was eight-years-old and started her career at Crystal Palace, before moving on to Carshalton and then Sutton United – where she now plays.
She trains twice a week on top of her day job.
But despite helping Sutton top Division One in the London & South East Regional Women’s League this season, Howell is still subjected to horrible sexist abuse.
One wrote to her on social media: “That’s the trouble with women’s football, I think players are picked on looks rather than talent.”
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Free bets – Paddy Power offer: Get £40 bonus when you stake £10 on football Bravely talking to the Mirror about her experiences, Howell suggested she is a target on her Instagram and TikTok accounts because she plays football, but also dresses up and goes out at the weekend.
She said: “You can be both – you can play football and like wearing high heels.”
Howell also revealed: “Men will say they’re horny underneath my photos of me playing football – and if I tag my club in the post it’s embarrassing.”
The midfielder though chooses not to delete the messages to prove to her fans that a large social media following is not necessarily a good thing.
Howell hopes to use her platform to inspire girls to play football Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyhowell/ .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}
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Howell also hopes to be a source of inspiration to young girls making their way in the game.
She said: “I like to keep [the hateful comments] on my profiles and I don’t delete them.
“Young girls think they want to be an influencer but they don’t see the downsides. I like to make people aware.
“Not everyone’s going to like you. I repeat that to myself when I see these comments.”
She added: “You’ve just got to develop a thick skin.”
Howell chooses not to delete hateful comments directed at her Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyhowell/
The Sutton star revealed she has developed a “thick skin” following the constant abuse Credit: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyhowell/ Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
