Women’s football

TANYA OXTOBY wants football authorities to clarify the choice to postpone Manchester City’s and Arsenal’s WSL games on Saturday.  
The ‘frustrated’ Robins manager’s plea came hours before the calling off City’s Conti Cup clash with Chelsea – a move facing a backlash from some players. 

Tanya Oxtoby wants to see clarity on match postponement decision-makingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Bristol had to play Man City in November with five of their senior players self-isolating Credit: The FA

Five Man City aces are confirmed to have tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of their first league game of the new year.
And it was reported that four City players got coronavirus following a trip to Dubai over the Christmas period. 
This week the FA announced City’s clash with West Ham is to be rescheduled, with the club confirmed as being unable to meet the minimum quota of 14 squad players.
However, the decision has prompted comments from some players hinting at double standards in the women’s top flight.

And some fans cited Bristol having to field a team of academy kids against City in November, with five of their senior players self-isolating.
Tanya Oxtoby’s Robins, who are currently bottom of the table, are due to face Brighton in the WSL on Sunday.
Oxtoby, 38, told Sky Sports News: “The FA have a decision to make now around the clarification and transparency over the decision-making. 
“Obviously there are things they can’t disclose, which I understand, but for us, it’s about understanding the decision-making process and being really clear.

“That would take away the feeling that bigger clubs are having different treatment because there may be underlying factors we’re not aware of.
“But until we’re filled in on those and able to understand them, there’s certainly some frustration around what appears to be a little bit of a different decision with similar circumstances.”
Meanwhile, the postponement of Man City’s Conti Cup quarter-final against Chelsea on Wednesday has been met with mild derision from WSL aces on social media. 
Blues striker Bethany England posted a cryptic message on Twitter featuring an upside-down emoji face along with the words ‘If I speak’.

Man City’s Conti Cup quarter-final clash with Chelsea has been postponedCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.
Her club team-mate Fran Kirby shared a tweet wishing authorities “good luck” with trying to find a date to reschedule the league cup fixture. 

The axing of the game means Manchester City’s first match of the year will be a WSL encounter against Aston Villa on January 17. 
And Chelsea who are third – with two games in hand on league leaders Man United – are due to take on Reading.

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ARSENAL have confirmed their WSL game with Aston Villa has been called off after a player tested positive for Covid after visiting Dubai.  
The club says the match postponement, which has provoked fury within the women’s game, is due to safety reasons. 

Arsenal have had their match with Aston Villa postponed due to a player testing positive for CovidCredit: Rex Features

The Gunners squad member who tested positive has not been named. 
However, the club confirmed the individual is not their Republic of Ireland star Katie McCabe who came under fire on social media for her Dubai trip over Christmas. 
In a statement an Arsenal spokeswoman said: “Although initially all of our first team players tested negative on return from the Christmas break, one player has subsequently tested positive for Covid-19 this week. 
“As a result, several first team players are now observing a period of self-isolation as a precaution in accordance with FA and UK Government protocol.

“Our FA WSL fixture against Aston Villa Women that was due to be played this weekend has been postponed due to health and safety concerns.” 
The axing of the Gunners’ away game with Villa is the second top tier encounter to be kiboshed by Covid this week. 
Earlier Manchester City announced their match with West Ham had been cancelled after five of their stars got coronavirus. 
This number includes four unnamed City aces who The Telegraph revealed had travelled to Dubai during the Christmas period.

The FA’s decision to allow two of the WSL’s big guns to postpone matches due to Covid outbreaks in their squad has been met with anger.
Association officials say City and Arsenal have proven they are not currently able to meet the minimum squad quota of 14 players.
However, fans on social media flagged Bristol being forced to field a team of academy kids against Man City in November after five Robins were self-isolating.
And some figures within the sport have accused the game’s authorities of having double standards. 
In a scathing post on Twitter Reading ace, Emma Mitchell accused the sport’s bigwigs of having alternate rules for different teams.
In her tweet published before the cancellation of Arsenal’s match, Mitchell wrote: “Cue the Arsenal game getting postponed..

Aston Villa will have to wait until January 17 to play their first league game this yearCredit: Getty Images – Getty

“We see you @BarclaysFAWSL @FA different rules for different teams.”
A new date for the Gunners’ clash with Villa is yet to be announced.
The Midlands side – who are currently second from bottom in the table – now have three games in hand on their WSL rivals.

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ALANNAH KENNEDY and Shelina Zadorsky have given Tottenham a January transfer boost by agreeing to permanent contracts with the club.
The former Orlando Pride pair, who were due to depart at the end of 2020, have agreed to permanent deals which will initially run until the end of the season

Alanna Kennedy is targetting a mid-table finish with Tottenham after agreeing to a permanent transferCredit: Represented by ZUMA Press, Inc.

Kennedy, who has been capped 87 times by Australia, has made 12 Spurs appearances across all competitions so far this term. 
The Matildas ace had initially made a temporary switch to the club after the Covid crisis shut down America’s National Women’s Soccer League season in 2020.
And the midfielder, 25, whose side will play Birmingham on Sunday, says she is targeting a mid-table finish with her team-mates. 
Kennedy told Tottenham’s website: “I’m so excited and happy to be here.

“When I signed there was always the potential for me to stay longer and when the decision had to be made, I didn’t feel ready to end my time here.
“As a team we’re moving in an upward direction and starting to show what we are capable of.
“I believe in our goals and want to help the team fulfil our potential this season.

“We have more to build on and more to give in this league. We want to lift the Club to where we think it should be and finish in the top half of the table.

“I’m looking forward to getting back out there this year.”
Tottenham, who suffered a blow with World Cup superstar Alex Morgan leaving the club to return to the USA, have also agreed to a permanent deal with Shelina Zardorsky. 
The Canada international, 27, reckons the decision to extend her stay in London was a straightforward one. 

Shelina Zadorsky says her decision to stay at Tottenham was an ‘easy one’ Credit: Alamy Live News
Zadorsky said: “It was an easy decision to make. As a group, moving up the table and giving our fans something to be proud of are our main goals.
“Personally, I also want to ensure we build a solid defence and keep more clean sheets.
“It’s a new chapter for the Club, our confidence is high and our aim is to push on from here.”

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EMMA MITCHELL has made a sly dig at the FA’s ‘different rules for different teams’ after Manchester City’s game with West Ham was postponed.
City requested that the match was called off after four aces tested positive for Covid-19 following a trip to Dubai, according to reports.

Reading star Emma Mitchell has hit out at the FA’s ‘different rules for different teams’Credit: Getty Images – Getty

Reading ace Mitchell wrote on Twitter: “Queue the Arsenal game getting postponed..
“We see you @BarclaysFAWSL @FA different rules for different teams.”
It is understood that the Gunners have also requested a postponement of their away trip to Aston Villa after a positive coronavirus test in camp.
The positive result followed three of Arsenal’s senior international players reportedly travelling to Dubai over the festive period, after London moved into Tier 4 restrictions.

Gunners icon Ian Wright slammed the move by his former club.
He wrote on Twitter: “So we asking for a postponement because we broke the rules??!!
“Players have every right to be upset but why should Villa be punished? Play the game.”
Bristol City were forced to field a team of academy kids against City in November after five of their players were self-isolating.

So we asking for a postponement because we broke the rules??!!😕 Players have every right to be upset but why should Villa be punished? Play the game. https://t.co/EWVfdTsl2o
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) January 6, 2021

WSL fixtures Sat 9 January / Sun 10 January

Saturday 9 January
Manchester City vs West Ham POSTPONED
Aston Villa vs Arsenal 12:30pm
Sunday 10 January
Everton vs Manchester United 12pm
Tottenham vs Birmingham 2pm
Reading vs Chelsea 2pm
Bristol vs Brighton 2pm

The senior stars share a house and one of the players developed coronavirus symptoms.
The club requested a postponement of the clash but were told to make the trip to Manchester as the FA were satisfied the club had “followed Covid-19 protocols and had enough players available”.
Robins boss Tanya Oxtoby said the game should not have been played because of safety concerns, however no positive tests were returned.
An FA Spokesperson said the health and safety of players and staff will “always be the number one priority when coming to a decision on scenarios such as this”.
On Twitter, Hammers boss Beard blasted the decision.
He said: “Sends a terrible message.
“Aston Villa’s games were postponed. No one wants games to be called off but common sense has to be used.
“We don’t have big squads and our academy systems are relatively new.”
The WSL has been given the green light to resume this weekend despite the surge in coronavirus cases.
The FA confirmed on Tuesday that 15 positive results came back from the 635 tests that were carried out in the WSL and Championship between 28 December and 3 January.
Players in the top two divisions in women’s football are currently tested once a week.
SunSport understands that this will remain the same despite ramped up testing in the Premier League to twice a week.

Sends a terrible message. Aston Villa’s games were postponed. No one wants games to be called off but common sense has to be used. We don’t have big squads & our academy systems are relatively new. https://t.co/lTPt8THijp
— Matthew Beard (@mattbeard02) November 7, 2020

WSL stars under fire for appearing to ‘break Covid rules’ as West Ham and Arsenal players jet off on luxury trips – the sun More

FORMER CHARLTON ace Madelene Wright has launched an OnlyFans account after being sacked by the club at the start of December.
The 22-year-old was axed after controversial videos of her swigging champagne while driving and inhaling from a balloon were uploaded to Snapchat.

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Ex-Charlton star Madelene Wright has set up an OnlyFans accountCredit: Instagram / @madelene_wright

The stunning footballer has 140k followers on Instagram and Twitter combinedCredit: Instagram / @madelene_wright

Madelene Wright’s OnlyFans page was set up one month after she was sacked from Charlton for ‘swigging champagne while driving’Credit: OnlyFans / @madelenewright
Now the ex-Millwall star has decided to showcase her talents off the pitch, by revealing to her 140k fans on Twitter and Instagram that she has set up an OnlyFans page.
Wright posted a video to her social media profiles with the caption: “Check the bio..” in reference to her new account on the X-rated site.
The ex-Addicks superstar is charging £33 for a monthly subscription to her page.

The news has sent her fans into meltdown, but one Twitter user saw the funnier side by joking: “Signed up and she’s stood there doing kick ups.”
Wright has been without a club for a month since Charlton let her go after a series of controversial videos were uploaded to Snapchat.
It is understood that in the clips the 22-year-old can be seen at a party with friends, where a number of people were inhaling from balloons.
A second video allegedly showed the former Championship footballer drinking champagne while driving her luxury Range Rover.

After the clips were shared on social media, Charlton Athletic confirmed that Wright’s registration had been cancelled and that she will no longer play for the club.

The ex-Millwall ace was reportedly seen ‘swigging champagne’ at the wheel of her luxry Range Rover at the start of Decemeber

Wright has played for both Charlton and Millwall

The star had previously been investigated by her former club Millwall after she filmed a friend holding a dog with its paws on the steering wheel

A spokesperson for the Addicks told SunSport at the time: “The club were made aware of the video and quickly investigated the incident.
“As a club we are disappointed with the behaviour which doesn’t represent the standards the team upholds.
“The player is remorseful and has now left the club.
“The club would like to make clear that although the behavior is not acceptable, the players welfare remains important to us and she will still have access to the club’s support channels if needed.”
Maddie was also investigated by former club Millwall in October last year after she filmed from the backseat while the driver puts a dog’s paws on the steering wheel.
Joshua Harris of road safety charity, Brake, told Sun Sport: “Driving and alcohol simply do not mix.
“When you’re behind the wheel you’re in charge of a potentially lethal weapon which requires full concentration and zero impairment to do so safely.
“We urge all drivers to never drink any amount of alcohol and drive – and certainly never do both at the same time.”

Wright has not been playing football since she was let go by the AddicksCredit: Instagram / @madelene_wright

Wright posts regularly on social media to her many fans

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JODIE TAYLOR has extended her loan spell with European champions Lyon until the end of the season. 
The England forward, 34, joined the French side from OL Reign on a short-term contract which was originally due to end in December 2020. 

Jodie Taylor will remain at Lyon on loan until the end of the season Credit: Getty – Contributor

However, the Lionesses striker, who has made seven appearances for Lyon, is thought to have impressed with her performances. 
And Taylor, who plays for Lyon alongside England teammate Nikita Parris, came on as a second-half sub during the club’s 2020 Women’s Champions League triumph. 
The Birkenhead-born star arrived at the French title-holders with an impressive international CV following her 41 England appearances. 
The OL Reign ace was a top scorer at the 2017 Women’s European Championship. 

And Taylor, whose club play Stade Reims in France’s top flight on Friday, described her summer switch as a move too good to miss out on. 
In August Taylor told Lyon’s website: “I talked a lot with my English teammates and I couldn’t refuse the opportunity to play for one of the best teams in the world.”
Lyon, who are currently the most successful side in the history of French women’s football, hope to win their fourteenth league title this season. 
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Jodie Taylor will be helping Lyon to retain their Champions League crown and French titleCredit: Reuters

The club, whose former stars include Wales ace Jess Fishlock and England’s Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, are the most club in the Women’s Champions League. 
The French side have won the competition a record-breaking seven times. 
And they are due to feature in the February draw for round 16 of the contest alongside Chelsea and Manchester City. 

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