Handling of Corsie retirement doesn't do women's game any favours

The Herald Scotland

a day ago

When Corsie started playing the idea of women taking their place at the national stadium would still have been fanciful. But while those who have moved the game in Scotland from an amateur sport to a professional entity deserve recognition, there is an accusation that anyone stepping out of lane not to offer pats on the back and big up the efforts is seen somehow as a traitor to the cause. That critical analysis is a personal affront.
Read more:
There is a perception inside media circles that the women's game in Scotland does not help itself when it comes to amplifying its story. It was difficult to argue this week as Corsie announced her retirement from the game.
A press briefing was held with a hand-picked selection of journalists and an embargo agreed as to when the news would be released, with several outlets shunned. The myopia in this is staggering. As women's football stories jostle for column inches in a competitive, congested market where it is all about the clicks, it becomes a particularly difficult sell to editors when there has been a very deliberate choice to overlook them.
This observer was not part of the chosen few invited to the briefing.
When pressed on the matter Corsie's agent and director of Decibel Sports Management – whose LinkedIn profile speaks of a philosophy of 'focusing entirely on people who work within the women in sport marketplace' and promises 'representation of women within sport' – eventually suggested that there was an accusation of not being 'particularly supportive' to answer for. A – male – journalist was given the nod instead.
In any case, it is not the job of journalists to don ra-ra skirts and break out the pom-poms. The role involves asking questions that might not always be comfortable. As Scotland captain, Corsie wrote a column for the Press and Journal on a willingness to play alongside a trans player. This is surely a topic worthy of exploration and debate given the position that she held when it was written. Similarly, Corsie was also the lead claimant in a legal challenge against the SFA over equal pay and treatment. Cue more troublesome questions.
Among the multiple ironies here is that as Corsie prepares for a different kind of life away from the day-to-day hurl of professional football, the likelihood is that there will be multiple offers of media work.
Corsie was an impressive pundit at the Euros last year and offered a fluent and articulate commentary at Saturday's Scottish Cup final as she performed media duties. Interestingly enough, an offer to perform a similar role at Sunday's Women's Scottish Cup final was not so eagerly embraced.
In any case, there is always a wry chuckle allowed when those who seem to have actively tried to censor journalists then look to manoeuvre themselves onto the other side of the fence in a switch of career paths. As Corsie will discover, there will come a point when critical observations have to be made in a punditry role. And they will not always be well received.
But, ultimately, the most striking element of this week was the lack of scrutiny around the women's game.
When new Scotland manager Melissa Andreatta announced her first squad a few weeks back, the bulk of her press conference was spent talking about the leadership qualities that the returning Corsie offered. She spoke at great lengths of having watched recent games and could see the deficiencies that the defender's return would go some way to correcting.
This week, Corsie spoke of the relief she felt that the news was now public around her retirement which would, of course, point to this decision having been made some time ago. Which begs the inevitable question: what is the purpose of being in the squad?
This is a manager who is stepping in to pick up the pieces of a team who will spend the summer with their noses pressed against the glass as third successive major tournament takes place without them. Andreatta will have her work cut out in rebuilding a squad capable of competing at elite level given the alacrity of progression that has taken place globally across the last decade in the women's game.
Fundamentally there is a question to be asked about the inclusion of a player in a squad for two competitive games who will not be part of the picture going forward.
It is impossible to imagine such a bizarre scenario unfolding in the men's game. Corsie is not just stepping down from international football, but stepping away from football altogether.
It is unimaginable that Robertson or John McGinn would be called into a squad for two competitive games with time called on their career when the full-time whistle sounded. The noise around such a situation would be deafening.
There can be recognition and applause for the exceptional contribution that Corsie has made to Scotland – and a presentation of some kind would have been expected and thoroughly merited – but turning this week into what could be described as an exercise in self-indulgence does no one any favours.