Latest news with #womensfootball
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
‘People are welcoming' – Goal Diggers FC hold inclusive tournament as FA ban on trans women starts
On Sunday morning more than 100 players gathered in north London to compete in an inclusive women's football tournament to protest against the ban on transgender women in women's football on the day it came into effect. Last month the Football Association announced that trans women would no longer be able to compete in women's football as result of the supreme court's ruling on 16 April that the terms 'women' and 'sex' in the Equality Act 2010 refer only to biological women and biological sex. This is believed to affect 28 FA-registered trans women. Before the ban trans women had been able to play in the women's game if they agreed to meet certain criteria, including providing medical records showing their testosterone levels were below a specified level, records of hormone therapy and having a 'match observation' by an FA official, who would have 'ultimate discretion' on whether they could continue to play on a case-by-case basis. The FA said its previous policy was based on its aim of 'making football accessible to as many people as possible, operating within the law and international football policy defined by Uefa and Fifa' and was 'supported by expert legal advice'. It added: 'This is a complex subject and our position has always been that if there was a material change in law, science or the operation of the policy in grassroots football then we would review it and change it if necessary.' Goal Diggers FC, an inclusive London-based football club, brought together players from across London to play in a tournament aimed at showing solidarity with their trans players and protesting against the ban. The club previously acted against the announcement of the ban by organising a 12-mile walk from their training pitches in Haggerston Park to Wembley to deliver a petition to the FA opposing it. 'I'm aware that there are people in the FA that don't agree with the decision,' said Billie Sky, a trans player for Goal Diggers and London Galaxy. 'The FA reviewed its guidance [as late as] 11 April and they decided to keep trans women in. So anyone who's arguing that this is to protect women's safety in sport is misguided; they've done this because they have to politically. That guidance [for the decision on 11 April] was based on research from World Athletics and the IOC [International Olympic Committee] which showed that trans women's muscle mass reduces, among many other physiological factors. 'It would be nice to see the FA say something more substantial and support the people who have been a part of their organisation for a long time. A lot of trans women have stuck by the FA through not always the easiest times, there have been a lot of difficult cases with trans women and cis women being questioned over their gender identity.' Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Having won promotion with London Galaxy, who play in the eighth tier of the pyramid, Sky will no longer be able to play with the team – 'though I was on the bench a lot so that tells you something about how good I am compared to my cis teammates'. Sky added: 'In terms of my own experience as a trans woman, when I first came out I didn't know any of that and I wasn't sure whether I should be playing football but cis women welcomed me in, they're the ones that invited me to play at Goal Diggers and also my other team London Galaxy.' Paula Griffin, a trans goalkeeper for Goal Diggers, said the tournament on Sunday showed 'that the people who play the sport, the women or non-binary people who play football, are welcoming and accepting'. Griffin said: 'As trans women we play together with other women, we play alongside them, they're our teammates, they're our opponents, but more importantly, they're our friends. This tournament shows people that this community exists, is there for them too and will not be divided.' Tackling the argument that there are safety concerns over trans women competing in women's football, Griffin said: 'Football by its very nature is a contact sport. I've had some of my worst injuries, only a couple, against women. Everyone's conscious of injuries. Injuries will happen, and they're not going to stop happening because we banned 28 women from playing. Nothing is going to change on that front.' There are some, however, who have welcomed the ban. Jane Sullivan, from the Women's Rights Network, said: 'We welcome the FA's move to protect women's football, making it safe and fair for females. Women have suffered season-ending injuries, been disciplined for questioning the presence of males on the pitch, seen their places on teams taken by males and suffered horrendous levels of abuse for demanding female-only football. Males playing in women's teams also have access to female changing rooms and toilets, which is unlawful and a safeguarding risk for women and girls.' Fiona McAnena, the director of campaigns at the human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'For every trans-identifying male player who dislikes this policy, there are dozens of female players who are relieved that they won't have to face them on the pitch any more.'
CNA
9 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Serial winner Montemurro confirmed as new coach of Australia's Matildas
SYDNEY :Joe Montemurro was confirmed as the new coach of the Australian women's national team on Monday and handed the task of leading the Matildas to the Women's Asian Cup title on home soil next year. The 55-year-old Australian moves from Lyon Women to replace Tom Sermanni, who has held the role on a caretaker basis since Tony Gustavsson departed in the wake of last year's disappointing Olympic campaign in Paris. The Matildas have established themselves as one of Australia's most popular sports teams but despite runs to the latter stages of the Olympic Games in 2021 and the Women's World Cup on home soil two years later, silverware has been sparse. Serial winner Montemurro, who said the appointment was the "honour of a lifetime", will be expected to change all that. "To be given the opportunity to lead one of the best brands in the world, one of the most exciting teams in the world, and to do it at home, it's something quite emotional," he told reporters in Sydney. "It's all set up for me to take over and bring it to the next level. Is the Asian Cup winnable? Of course it is ... I want to win, I want to win playing a great brand of football." After a modest playing career, Montemurro started his coaching career at state level in Victoria before taking over Melbourne Victory's women's team in 2014. He quickly established a reputation for playing attractive football and moved across his hometown the following season to join Melbourne City, where his team won two W-League titles. In November 2017, he moved to England to take over as Arsenal head coach and within six months had steered the club to victory in the FA Women's League Cup. The Women's Super League title was to follow in 2019 before a switch to Juventus women, where he won the Serie A and Coppa Italia double in 2021 during a successful three-year spell. He was hired by Lyon Women to replace UEFA Women's Champions League-winning coach Sonia Bompastor following her departure for Chelsea in June 2014. Montemurro has long been Football Australia's prime candidate for the Matildas post and he was freed to take up the job when Lyon released him from his contract on Sunday. With a squad featuring Arsenal's UEFA Women's Champions League-winning trio Steph Catley, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Caitlin Foord along with Chelsea striker Sam Kerr, expectations on Montemurro to deliver long-overdue success will be high. "We are at an exciting moment for the Matildas with the Women's Asian Cup nine months away," said Football Australia interim Chief Executive Heather Garriock.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Montemurro appointed new Australia women's football coach
Joe Montemurro has been appointed head coach of the Australian women's team (JUSTIN TALLIS) Joe Montemurro was appointed head coach of the Australia women's team Monday, returning home after a successful decade in Europe with Arsenal, Juventus and Lyon. The 55-year-old, who steered French powerhouses Lyon to their fourth consecutive women's league title last month, said it was "the honour of a lifetime". Advertisement "This team means so much to so many Australians, and I'm humbled by the opportunity to help shape its next chapter," he said. "I've followed their incredible journey closely and am energised by the passion, resilience, and identity they've built." The Matildas captivated the nation and won legions of new fans with their run to the last four of the World Cup on home soil in 2023. But an underwhelming Paris Olympics last year saw Tony Gustavsson depart and they have been without a permanent head coach since. Tom Sermanni, a 70-year-old Scot, has been in temporary charge during a protracted recruitment process, with the side sliding to 16th in the world. Advertisement "Joe brings world-class experience, a deep understanding of the Australian football landscape, and a genuine connection to our national identity," said Football Australia interim chief Heather Garriock. "Importantly, he has spent the last decade coaching at the very highest levels of the women's game in Europe and brings with him an unparalleled understanding of what is required to compete and succeed at the top of modern football." Montemurro, who won trophies with women's teams at Lyon, Juventus, Arsenal and Melbourne City, will lead the Matildas to the Asian Cup on home soil next year, then through qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup. mp/dh
ABC News
10 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Joe Montemurro to coach Matildas after 10-month search to replace Tony Gustavsson
The 10-month search for a new Matildas coach is officially over. Joe Montemurro has been unveiled as Tony Gustavsson's replacement after an exhaustive search for the new head of the Australian women's football team. The 55-year-old Australian leaves Lyon after steering the team to the women's French title, but falling short of a UEFA Champions League final appearance after going down to the Steph Catley-led Arsenal in the semifinal. Montemurro has overseen successful campaigns at Arsenal, Juventus and Melbourne City, and has strong relationships with some of Australia's biggest stars. "Joe brings world-class experience, a deep understanding of the Australian football landscape, and a genuine connection to our national identity," Football Australia interim CEO Heather Garriock said. "Importantly, he has spent the last decade coaching at the very highest levels of the women's game in Europe and brings with him an unparalleled understanding of what is required to compete and succeed at the top of modern football. "Joe has shown an ability to build high-performing teams that play with tactical clarity and attacking intent, and we believe his vision and values are the perfect fit to lead the next era of the Matildas with professionalism, vision, and distinction." The announcement means tonight's Matildas friendly against Argentina will be Tom Sermanni's final game at the helm as interim coach.
Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Times
World Sevens: DJs, ‘party deck' — and the millions to revolutionise game
Don't be fooled by the funky rules, loud music and late-season scheduling. Women's football's new seven-a-side tournament is not a cheap gimmick. Granted, a walk around the venue within the modest Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota in Estoril, Portugal, made last week's inaugural World Sevens Football (W7F) event feel frivolous. One of the three temporary stands is a plush players' lounge, from which participants watched their rivals on comfy sofas or plastic chairs. At the other end lies the comically named 'party deck', in which the atmosphere was sedate despite residing next to a tent serving alcohol. On one side of the ground, either side of a DJ playing in-game music, the VIPs were sitting grandly in cabanas. Meanwhile, the action on the pitch was often bizarre. Before each game, the teams lined up opposite each other as though they were about to break into rugby-style war dances, only to advance jovially and shake hands with one (weirdly, always only one) opponent. No offsides meant players popped up in random places. When Ajax's Lily Yohannes strode up to a penalty, the Jaws theme music started playing. Yet W7F's wacky elements signal its championing of fun, and the disdain for convention characterises its potential to transform. With its financial heft, truncated format and existence separate from traditional competitions, the impact on women's football could be seismic. This was no end-of-season jolly for the participating eight clubs, which included Manchester City and Manchester United. Fronted by Jennifer Mackesy, a Chelsea minority owner, US-based investors have committed $100million (about £75million) to a W7F series over the next five years. That is a huge sum, as is the $5million prize pot in Estoril. The first W7F winners, Bayern Munich, won $2.5million (about £1.86million), four times more than the £430,000 Chelsea got for winning the Women's FA Cup this month. Even Arsenal took their cumulative prize money to only £1.1million by winning the Champions League — and that was for a whole season's work, rather than three days. Players and staff received 40 per cent of the prize money, encouraging them to compete seriously. Nicola Keating, who was in Estoril watching her 20-year-old daughter Khiara play for City, hinted at the high stakes. 'It's a life-changing opportunity for whichever team wins,' she said. 'For men, this would probably be a drop in the ocean, but for women that could be how many months' wages? It's life-changing money.' Participants were reluctant to discuss the potential winnings but thinking about the payday would only be natural. 'As you get closer to the prize money and being the first winner, the jeopardy starts to come in and tactics start to change,' City's head coach, Nick Cushing, said. Manchester United's situation epitomises the money's power. Marc Skinner, their head coach, has stressed that his squad needs investment but Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the United co-owner, has cited the relative lack of turnover when explaining his limited focus on the women's team. Pocketing £740,000 in three days, as United did by finishing runners-up to Bayern, could fund Skinner's transfer plans and display the potential of women's football to Ratcliffe. Equally, the tournament is not a soulless pursuit of cash. The small pitch (half the size of an 11-a-side one), rolling substitutes, 15-minute halves and no offsides create attacking football compatible with Gen Z attention spans and enjoyed by players. 'It's a higher intensity, but more free,' Grace Clinton, the United midfielder, said. 'You can play, be skilful, link up, and it's very unpredictable. You just don't know what's going to happen, but it's more enjoyable [than 11-a-side].' There were 16 goals in 120 minutes on day one, and so great is the commitment to fun that Bayern Munich's Tuva Hansen had her yellow card rescinded after taking off her shirt in celebration. Yet amid so much money, fun and innovation, it may seem too good to be true. So what's the catch? The starting point is financial. Only 3,500 tickets were sold over the three days, and the broadcast deal with DAZN alone will not move Mackesy's group into the black. The tournament must enhance revenue streams. 'We would love to see cities around the world want to bring us into their communities and partner with them,' Mackesy said. Indeed, W7F needs to live up to its global identity. While all eight teams in Estoril are European, the second event at the end of this year will be held in the Americas. Justin Fishkin, Mackesy's co-founder, detailed plans for four 'regional' events before the fifth served as a world championship. Cracking the enormous women's football market of the United States, the expected location for the second event, is also crucial. Nonetheless, Mackesy and Fishkin were guarded over their business strategy, so W7F's road to sustainability remains uncertain. The fan experience could improve too, because the atmosphere at the 5,100-capacity stadium rarely turned lively before the Friday night final. Mackesy mooted using bigger stadiums, or springing up a venue in a large park. Organisers perhaps sacrificed hosting in a bigger women's football nation to be on the Champions League final's doorstep, but this move was symbolic. While there is a desire to co-operate with governing bodies such as Fifa and Uefa, W7F is disturbing women's football's status quo. Expansion beyond eight teams is envisaged and the women's football calendar is already packed. Fiskin emphasised working around the existing schedule but Tobin Heath, the former United States international who chairs the W7F advisory council, was more combative. 'The schedules are going to clear, just look at the prize pool we set,' she told the Full Time podcast. With the successes tangible and concerns mostly hypothetical, W7F's genesis in Portugal was pretty good. And when an event is this lucrative and eyebrow-raising, a qualified success is enough to ignite revolution.
