Emotional? Try tired and furious
I was so frustrated to hear Northern Ireland boss Kenny Shiels describe women as “more emotional than men” after his side suffered a 5-0 defeat to England last week. That was his explanation for why the side twice conceded goals in quick succession.
I’m so sick of listening to patronising outdated stereotypes but it’s even worse when they are trotted out by a man in his position. How you react to going behind in a game of football has absolutely nothing to do with gender. With highs and lows, disappointments and triumphs, sport is always going to be filled with emotion, both from the fans and the players – but in my experience it’s men, not women, who more often let anger and frustration get the better of them. After all, how many times have we seen bad behaviour from footballers on the pitch as a result? All professional athletes, regardless of gender, have to learn to deal with the emotions that come with the pressure of competing, with many nowadays employing sports psychologists for that very reason.
Women have had to fight so much harder to get anywhere close to equal opportunities within elite sport, and Shiels’ comment is even more annoying when you consider that the match in question, a qualifier for next year’s Women’s World Cup, was attended by a record crowd. More than 15,000 spectators turned out to Windsor Park in Belfast, which should have been seen as a victory for everyone. Instead, we’re all speaking about women’s “emotions” again.
Many times during my career in sport, I have been branded as “difficult” when in reality I’ve always had to fight to be taken seriously in a very male-dominated world. Yes, I am demanding because I know what it takes to achieve at the top level. Shiels has since apologised for his comment. I hope next time he chooses his words more carefully.