Women’s football

PORTSMOUTH WOMEN have been ejected from the Women’s FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in the last round of the competition.The breach happened during their 2-0 victory against Cheltenham in the second round of the competition last weekend.
Portsmouth have been removed from the Women’s FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their second round win against CheltenhamCredit: PA
As a result of the incident, the FA have decided to ban Pompey from the contest and award the win to Cheltenham instead.
A statement on the FA’s website read: “We can confirm that Portsmouth Women have been removed from this season’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup, following the fielding of an ineligible player during their second round tie against Cheltenham Town Ladies on Sunday 4 April.
“As a result, the tie has been awarded to Cheltenham Town and no further action will be taken against Portsmouth.”
Pompey were looking forward to a potential fourth-round clash with WSL heavyweights Arsenal if they managed to dispose of Gillingham in the third round this weekend.
The Gunners, who have won the trophy a record 14 times, will join the competition at the fourth stage along with other WSL and Championship clubs.
Women’s FA Cup clashes resumed in March and April after initially being paused in January due to the Covid pandemic.
But some clubs felt they were blindsided by the football chiefs’ decision to restart the competition.
Manchester United boss Casey Stoney expressed her frustration about not being given a heads-up in regard to draws for fourth-round ties.
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Portsmouth could have the chance to played Arsenal in the fourth round if they defeated GillinghamCredit: Alamy
In March Stoney said: “I didn’t even know there was a draw, let’s put it that way.
“So that was interesting that was done without the knowledge of the clubs.
“Obviously, we’ve drawn teams that aren’t even currently training.
“So, that fixture will only go ahead if those teams are tested and those grounds are Covid safe otherwise it will have to be reversed.
“It’s obviously a big day in the women’s calendar. But the safety of my players is always my priority.
“I just would have liked to know there was actually a draw going ahead.

“We should never be out of the loop when we’re having fixtures made or draws put in.
“So yeah, I’d like a little bit more transparency on that next time.”
The fourth round of the competition is set to take place on April 16 – 18.
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Stoney felt some clubs were “out of the loop” on draws for Women’s FA Cup fixturesCredit: Getty
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JESS FISHLOCK has revealed she uses the difficulties she experienced coming out to inspire and protect youngsters contending with similar issues. The Wales midfield ace, who was awarded an MBE for her work within football, feels it is her duty to help empower young people within the LGBTQ community.
Fishlock is using her platform to help young people within the LGBTQ communityCredit: PA
By coming out the OL Reign ace, 35, wanted to stand up for vulnerable youngsters, especially in Wales.
With the rise of social media trolls, Fishlock felt the need to come out more than ever, irrespective of how it might make anyone feel.
Fishlock told the Game Changers podcast: “I mean, you see what social media and that is not, you know, it’s just not, just not…..nice.
“But then I got to a point where I was like, you know what, like I’m kind of over that now.
“Like my little sisters are older, my mom and dad need to just get over it, which, you know, they grew too.
“And so I said, this is what I’m doing. Like I’m coming out because I don’t want anybody to go through what I went through basically.
“And I want there to be visibility specifically in Wales specifically because there just isn’t enough for the youth.
The Wales midfield star says there were not any role models for her to see growing upCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
“And I’m always, always an advocate for youth because I feel that they’re the most vulnerable and we let them down way too much.
“So I’d made that decision. I run it, obviously, run it past my family.
“It wasn’t going to sway my decision, but I felt like I needed to let them know because obviously the decisions that you make, they never really just implicate you.
“They affect everybody and you have to be respectful for that, but they were super supportive and they knew that it was gonna be a tough ride.
“But it was for the greater good almost, for other people to make sure that they didn’t have to go through kind of the way that I went through and how that affected me.”
Fishlock, who made 19 Reading appearances on loan at the Royals this season, knows first hand how hard it can be for a youngster with nobody to talk to.
When she was going through that difficult period, there were no role models she could look up to for inspiration, which she believes would have been a great help.
The OL Reign star continued: “I think if you know, all of the sport that I was watching, if I knew that any of them were gay and openly gay and openly kind of not a problem then, yeah.
“Maybe. I mean, I can’t say for sure, because I just don’t know what I would have felt like.
“Definitely the lack of visibility and the fact that when I was growing up, the LGBTQ community was just completely underground,
“Forced underground because of society and government rules and government kind of views on it.
She has won an MBE for work within the LGBTQ communityCredit: Getty
Fishlock has had an illustrious career for club and country and has 120 Wales international capsCredit: Getty
“When that’s the situation, then you generally do grow up thinking that who you are and what you do is wrong.
“So I’m more worried about there being a lack of visibility for the kids and the youth that kind of really, really, really, really need it.”
Fishlock made the decision to come out to her relatives at the age of 16, which led to a difficult period.
But the former Reading star now has a warm relationship with her parents who she regards as her ‘best friends’.
Fishlock added: “I was just trying to figure out how to be gay.
“And that was a difficult period. You know, my family had no issues with me being completely honest with the fact that it wasn’t straight sailing.
“My Mum and Dad come from a different generation and they just didn’t understand what it was or what it meant.
“So it took a lot of time, a lot of education, a lot of forgiveness really on both parts with how things kind of went a little bit and a lot of regrowing our relationships as them being my Mum and my Dad.
“But also being like massive friends, you know, like they really are like my best friends.
“I think our relationship really broke massively and then we had to rebuild and we did that over time.
“That’s when I decided to come out publicly and on the BBC, and I did an article because I just said, look for so long, I have done what I’ve not wanted to do to protect our family.
“Really, you know, ’cause they didn’t want my little sisters going to school and be like, ‘Oh, your sister’s gay’
“I have two little sisters, I have to also protect them and not so much protect them just with the fact that I’m gay, but I have to protect them from other people.”
The OL Reign star still aims to inspire many more young women by helping Wales Women qualify for a major tournament for the first time in their history.
Wales narrowly missed out of qualifying for Euro 2022 but have appointed new manager Gemma Grainger to help them do so in the future.
Grainger has the opportunity to get off to the right start with Wales’ friendlies against Canada and Denmark over the next week.
And Fishlock has faith Grainger will lead the team on to great things.

The country’s most capped player said: “Gemma is fabulous so everyone is looking forward to working together and reaching our goal.
“Gemma was found to be the absolute best person for us and the first thing I did was congratulate her.
“How she has been and carried herself with us and our group is nothing short of phenomenal.
“She has already been a breath of fresh air and I have no doubt that she will get the best out of everyone in this group.”
Hosted by Sue Anstiss MBE on The Game Changers podcast is supported by Barclays and is available across all platforms. For more information visit fearlesswomen.co.uk
Wales have a new manager Grainger who Fishlock feels can help guide them to a major tournament and inspire many moreCredit: Getty
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ARSENAL star Vivianne Miedeme has hinted at a possible future move to Feyenoord after they created a women’s team for the first time ever.The Dutch side announced the news last week and life-long fan Miedema took to social media to congratulate them.
Arsenal star Vivenne Miedema said she hopes to play for Feyenoord who recently created a women team in the futureCredit: Getty
Feyenoord were more than happy to welcome Miedema to the club
She will follow in the footsteps of childhood idol Robin van Persie if she joins the Dutch side
The Arsenal ace posted a pic on Instagram as a child donning the Eredivisie giants kit and shared her desire to play for them one day in the caption.
She said: “What a great day for the club, women’s football and all the girls who have the dream of one day playing football for Feyenoord.
“And hopefully in the future, I can also wear the Feyenoord shirt.”
She was welcomed to the club with open arms who wrote, “You’re always welcome!” under the post.
The 24-year-old’s current contract with the Gunners runs out at the end of next season and she is yet to commit her future to the club.
Despite not yet signing a new deal she has said she has no plans to leave and would like to continue at the highest level.
She told the Islington Gazette: “I have no plans to leave, I want to play against as many opponents as possible and at the highest level imaginable that is here in England.”
Current Gunners boss Joe Montemurro announced his departure from the club at the end of the season and it remains to be seen if this will have an affect on Miedema’s decision.

And a move back to her homeland will see her follow in the footsteps of her idol Robin van Persie – who played for the club when she was a child.
He has had a major impact on her career thus far and was one of the factors in her joining Arsenal.
In the stuff made of dreams, Miedema emulated her childhood hero when she surpassed his 50 goals to become the national team’s all-time top scorer, which he congratulated her for.
She said: “When I grew up [Van Persie] was my idol. I overtook him as top goal scorer for the nation.
“It was amazing he actually sent me a video and all that, it was really cool. He was just amazing, that’s the type of No 9 I want to be.
“I’m a Feyenoord fan in Holland but with Van Persie going to Arsenal I’ve actually been an Arsenal fan.
“I was an Arsenal fan when I was younger, I had all the shirts.
“Everyone knows I’ve always been a Van Persie fan, he was a big hero here – in England as well – and so I love players like him.”
The Gunners hot shot is yet to sign a new deal with the clubCredit: Getty
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SAM KERR is in pole position to steal Vivianne Miedema’s goalscoring crown as the pair battle it out for the Women’s Super League Golden Boot.After Kerr’s hat-trick in Chelsea’s 6-0 thrashing of Birmingham on the weekend, both strikers now have an equal tally of 17 goals and five assists.
Sam Kerr has scored 17 league goals in 19 WSL games this termCredit: Rex
But a modest Kerr claims she is not interested in the individual accolade, and is focused on helping her Chelsea team-mates retain their WSL title.
Speaking to Chelsea’s website, Kerr said: “There are a few people who are pretty close at the moment.
“It feels good that I’m contributing to the team and I’m focusing on game-by-game.
“It’s my job to score goals so I don’t look at those things, I just worry about where we are sitting in the table so at the moment it’s pretty good.”
That sentiment will probably be shared by Miedema, whose Arsenal team are chasing Champions League qualification after missing out on European action this season.
But with only four games left this term, the Dutch hot-shot will need to be at her best to retain her spot as the WSL’s highest-scoring finisher.
The Arsenal ace has won the coveted prize for the past two seasons, and now only Kerr stands in her way of making it a treble.
She also smashed the WSL all-time scoring record with 50 goals in 52 games in the 2019/20 season against rivals Tottenham.
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Miedema has won the coveted WSL topscorer prize for the past two seasonsCredit: Getty
And while Kerr has not yet won the accolade in England, she has done so in both Australia and the USA.
The 27-year-old won the Golden Boot award five times in both countries, becoming the highest-scoring player in W-League at the time and currently in NWSL history.
Despite her record, the Australia captain struggled to recreate her stunning form when she moved to Chelsea in 2019.
Last term Kerr made four top-flight appearances and managed to score just once.

The Matildas striker has had a remarkable turn-around this season, forming an irresistible rapport on the pitch with fellow Blues ace Fran Kirby.
The pair have linked up so well that it has led boss Emma Hayes to compare their partnership to that of the legendary Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole duo that ran riot in the Premier League for Manchester United in the nineties
But Miedema, widely regarded as the world’s best forward, will not give up her crown easily, so Kerr will have to be relentless to knock her off her perch in these last few games.
Kerr has formed a remarkable partnership with Fran Kirby this season who has aided her in many of her goalsCredit: Getty
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SEVERAL WSL stars have thrown their support behind Birmingham Women over their dispute with the club’s board over work conditions.First-team Blues players signed a letter sent to clubs’ chiefs voicing concerns over inadequate facilities, wages and medical support, according to The Telegraph.
Fran Kirby is backing Birmingham Women players who have made a written complaint over work conditions to club board membersCredit: Getty
And now WSL aces including Chelsea star Fran Kirby are making a stand in solidarity with Blues players.
Kirby, 27, whose brace helped Chelsea thrash Birmingham 6-0 on Sunday, was one of the first to stand up for her league rivals.
In a post shared with more than 100,000 of her Twitter followers, Kirby said: “It’s a shame in 2021 we still have women’s teams competing in the top league in England having to ask for help like this.
“We should all be given the chance to perform at the highest level we can, Birmingham Women we all stand with you.”
Arsenal ace Katie McCabe demanded that things have to “improve” in her tweet.
McCabe said: “The players, staff & fans of Birmingham FC deserve so much more.”
And ex-Blues centre-back Kerys Harrop cited the concerns raised in the letter as one of the reasons she left the club for Tottenham in 2020
Harrop, who made 135 Birmingham appearances between 2011 and 2020, pleaded for the club not to neglect the women’s squad.
Harrop tweeted: “This is heart-breaking, one of the reasons I felt I had to leave the club.
“Birmingham City FC, please don’t let the hard work and personal investment that people who care about the club have put into the women’s team go to waste.
“This is a great time to be a part of women’s football!”
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Katie McCabe is publicly supporting Birmingham Women players who have raised concerns in regard to travel, pay and gym and physio facilitiesCredit: Getty

There was also dismay expressed from within the club, and defender Harriet Scott tweeted that the players “deserved better.”
Shebahn Aherne, who was the first to report on the complaint letter in a Sky Sports News interview, revealed players were frustrated at a number of issues at the club.
These include some staff being paid below minimum wage, lack of support with away game travel and worries about playing finances affecting match-day squad numbers. 
Aherne claims that conditions are so bad at the club that one player’s parent had to come in to build a weights rack for the team.
BBC Sport reports team boss Carla Ward is acting as a mediator between her players and the board to try and resolve issues flagged in the complaint letter.
SunSport contacted Birmingham City for further comment on Monday.
Birmingham Women’s boss Carla Ward is reportedly acting as a mediator between players and board membersCredit: Getty
A spokesman says the club is due to issue a statement in response to many of the claims made. 
The fallout couldn’t have come at a worse time for Blues who are currently fighting for WSL survival.
Ward’s side are ninth and just three points above Aston Villa who are currently propping up the table.
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