Women’s Super League

OLLI HARDER is open to a possible mid-game pause in WSL evening fixtures during Ramadan so Muslim players can break their fasts.And Harder’s club West Ham, who face Manchester City in the FA Cup later, have been supporting Hawa Cissoko with her training and nutritional needs.
Olli Harder’s West Ham side hope to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 2019Credit: Getty
The France and Hammers centre-back, 25, is among the Muslim players in the WSL who are fasting during the Islamic holy month.
Harder, 36, was speaking days after Leicester’s clash with Crystal Palace reportedly became the first Premier League fixture to be paused to allow fasting players to eat and drink at sunset.
On the idea of a similar pause in games in the top tier, Harder said: “With anything that helps athletes perform better, then there should be a conversation about it. I would support the idea.
“We have a lot of support structures and systems in place in regard to helping all our athletes.

“With Hawa’s circumstances, there is an extra part that needs to be played there.
“It has been managed well as she is fit, healthy and ready to go on the pitch.”
West Ham’s FA Cup duel with City will be the third clash between the sides this season.
Last time out, City avenged their October home loss to the Irons with a 2-0 win on the road.
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But Harder’s aces will take inspiration from Hammers’ men reaching their first European semi-finals for 46 years on Thursday night.
He added: “That result was a huge boost to the club as a whole, and the West Ham community.
“For any team, it’s always part of the pre-season thoughts – can you get on a good cup run?
“We have a massive challenge but hope to replicate our past success and reach the final.”
Demi Stokes and Manchester City are targeting a league and FA Cup doubleCredit: Getty
Demi Stokes hopes League Cup winners Man City can do a cup double, with the club’s England stars eager to retain a winning feeling ahead of the Euros.
The City defender, 30, said: “It would feel like a great reward for our hard work and how much we have improved.
“We all love to win and would love to keep that momentum going.” More

MARISSA CALLAGHAN and Northern Ireland players have given Kenny Shiels their backing after he was criticised for saying “women were more emotional than men”. Shiels later apologised for the comments made after his side were beaten 5-0 in by the Lionesses in a World Cup qualifier.
Northern Ireland skipper Marissa Callaghan says she and her team-mates “collectively stand by” their managerCredit: Reuters
Shiels apologised for comments he made after Northern Ireland’s game against EnglandCredit: PA
The result put an end to their aims of reaching next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Following the game Shiels, 65, said: “Girls and women are more emotional than men. So they take a goal going in not very well.”
His words came under fire from figures in the game including former England striker Ian Wright and retired Republic of Ireland Women’s captain Emma Byrne.
Sky Sports reports Shiels will continue in his role as senior women’s team manager with Northern Ireland preparing to compete in this summer’s Euros.
And team captain Callaghan, 36, says the ‘squad collectively stand’ by their boss who helped the team reach the Euros for the first time ever.
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In a statement Callaghan, who has 47 senior international caps, said: “In light of recent events, collectively we stand by our manager.
“We feel his interview was in relation to a meeting we had as a team where we analysed that we concede goals in quick succession and emotions was one of the many things we discussed.
“Since Kenny took over our national team three years ago, I have always complimented him publicly on how he can get the best out of his players individually and collectively.
“He is a man of integrity who cares for us like we are family.
“Kenny has transformed the game here in Northern Ireland because he understands how to get the best out of his players.
“We have qualified for a major tournament because he transformed our mindset.”
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Under Shiels’ stewardship Northern Ireland made history by qualifying for the European Championships, the first major tournament the team will compete in.
The side, whose players include Durham ace Sarah McFadden and Crusaders centre-back Julie Nelson, will take on Norway, Austria and England in the Euros group stages.
Their opening game against Norway at St Mary’s will come almost three months on from them playing England in front of a record 15,348 crowd at Windsor Park in Belfast.
On the turnout Callaghan added: “Selling out the National Stadium has been a pivotal moment for the game here in NI and we as players and staff will continue as a team to help grow the game and inspire the next generation of young players and fans.” More

KENNY SHIELS has apologised after claiming “women are more emotional than men” following Northern Ireland’s loss to England at Windsor Park.Shiels’ comments – made after his side fell to a 5-0 defeat- have been met with a backlash from influential figures in football.
Kenny Shiels said he was sorry for the offence caused by his comments after Northern Ireland’s game against EnglandCredit: Sportsfile
Former England striker Ian Wright and Women in Football chief Yvonne Harrison are among those who criticised Shiels’ remarks.
The Northern Ireland manager, 65, said women’s teams conceding multiple goals “in a very short period time” is something that occurs “through the whole spectrum of the game”.
Shiels also suggested women’s sides do not take a goal going in “very well” because “women are more emotional than men”.   
The former Derry City chief made the comments after his side conceded four second-half goals in 27 minutes at home to England on Tuesday.
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Last Friday they conceded three in nine minutes away to Austria.
This afternoon the Northern Ireland manager said he was sorry for the offence caused by his comments.
In a statement published on the Irish FA’s website, Shiels 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.
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“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.”
Responding to his original comments, Arsenal legend Wright, who is a WSL ambassador, tweeted: “Kenny Shiels (is) talking foolishness. Talking about emotional women!”
The Highbury icon included two pictures of himself during an unhappy moment in his playing days to emphasise his point.
Shiels’ statement comes a day after Northern Ireland’s World Cup qualifier duel with England played in front of a record crowd of more than 15,000 fans at Windsor Park.
His team are set to face Norway in their first game at the Euros in July after qualifying for the tournament for the first time in their history.
Northern Ireland are set to face England again in the Euros in JulyCredit: Getty More

IAN WRIGHT hit out at Kenny Shiels’ controversial remarks following Northern Ireland’s loss to England in the World Cup qualifiers.Shiels has come under fire after claiming women “being more emotional than men” as a reason for some women’s teams swiftly conceding multiple goals.
Kenny Shiels suggested women’s teams conceding two goals “in a very short period” occurs throughout the gameCredit: PA
The Northern Ireland chief, 65, was speaking after his side conceded four times in 27 minutes in the second half of their Windsor Park clash with England.
The 5-0 result followed Shiels’ aces losing 3-1 to Austria in their previous World Cup qualifier last Friday.
Shiels suggested teams giving away two goals in a “very short” space of time is something that occurs throughout women’s football.
He also claimed girls and women “are more emotional than men” and don’t take going a goal down very well.
This afternoon the Northern Ireland gaffer apologised after his remarks prompted a backlash from followers of the women’s game.
In a statement published on the Irish FA’s website, Shiels 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. 
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“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.”
Shiels’ comments came in for criticism from Wright, 58, and influential figures in the sport including Women in Football chief Yvonne Harrison.
This morning Arsenal legend Wright, who is a WSL ambassador, tweeted: “Kenny Shiels (is) talking foolishness. Talking about emotional women!
The Highbury icon included two pictures of himself during an unhappy moment in his playing days to emphasise his point.

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And Women in Football’s CEO Harrison told Sky Sports: “Women being classed as too emotional is just perpetuating this stereotype that we can’t control our emotions in any setting.
“That is deeply unhelpful, and I am disappointed by the comments.”
After Northern Ireland’s loss to England, Shiels told reporters: “I felt they (England) were struggling a wee bit at times to open us up until the psychology of going 2-0 (behind).
“In the women’s game, you’ll have noticed if you go through the patterns, when a team concedes a goal, they concede a second one within a very short period of time.
“Right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men, so a goal going in (is something) they don’t take that very well.”
“When we went one nil down, we killed the game and tried to just slow it right down to give them (the players) time to get that emotional imbalance out of their head.
“And that’s an issue we have, not just Northern Ireland, but all countries have that problem.”
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Losses to Austria and England have effectively ended Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
However, the team will compete in the Women’s Euros for the first time in their history in July.
And Shiels is turning his attention to tournament preparations and duels with their Group A rivals Norway, Austria and England.
Shiels’ Northern Ireland side will focusing on the Euros with their World Cup qualification hopes all but endedCredit: Sportsfile
On those matches Shiels said: “It’s going to be very, very difficult to beat England and Norway.
“But the Austria game – in the two (qualifiers) we played against Austria- I felt we were every bit as good if not better than them. But they’re a really good team.
“We’ve got to go (into these games) with a positive frame of mind.” More