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Rise in ACL injuries in women’s soccer blamed on gender inequality–uk report

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ARISE in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s soccer highlights “systemic gender inequality in sports,” a UK parliament report said recently.

The Women and Equalities Committee said there was a “lack of understand­ing of the health and physiologi­cal needs of women and girls across sport.”

In its report “Health barriers for girls and women in sport,” it cited a lack of footwear specifical­ly designed for the needs of female soccer players as an area of concern and called on the government to assemble a task force to address the issue.

“It is symptomati­c of gender inequality and sexism in the sports sector that the first football boot in the world designed around female feet came to the market less than four years ago,” committee chair Caroline Nokes said.

ACL injuries to high-profile players has cast a spotlight on that specific issue.

Chelsea and Australia striker Sam Kerr suffered ACL damage in January. Other leading players Alexia Putellas, Beth Mead and Leah Williamson have also sustained ACL injuries.

The committee said the response from the sports science sector had been “disparate and slow” and sports and exercise research was “overwhelmi­ngly” conducted by men.

“We have no doubt that a health issue of similar magnitude affecting elite male footballer­s would have received a faster, more thorough, and better coordinate­d response.”

In a report last year, world players’ union FIFPRO found increased demands in the women’s game had seen a “notable” rise in injuries, including to the ACL.

It said players who competed and traveled more with their club and national teams were more susceptibl­e to lower limb injuries.

The report by the Women and Equalities Committee has highlighte­d concerns around sportswear and wants brands to be involved in a task force to help improve the physiologi­cal health of players.

“While female footballer­s in the UK have enjoyed great success at club and national level, they have done so wearing ill-fitting footwear. Few football boots designed for women are available, and those that do exist are rarely stocked or promoted by the UK’S leading high street sports retailers.”

The report said the issues go beyond profession­al level and called for schools to “drasticall­y” improve teaching about girls’ physiology, including the menstrual cycle, when it comes to sport and exercise. Again, kit, was an area of concern. “There is overwhelmi­ng evidence that school PE and sports kit can have a devastatin­g impact on girls’ confidence to participat­e in and enjoy school sport,” the report said.

 ?? AP ?? GERMANY’S Marina Hegering reacts during her team’s Nations League semifinal match against France in Lyon last month.
AP GERMANY’S Marina Hegering reacts during her team’s Nations League semifinal match against France in Lyon last month.

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