EX-ENGLAND PLAYERS BACK GENDER SPLIT

TWO of England’s most high-profile female footballers have insisted they do not want to see mixed football introduced for adults, an idea being explored by the FA. Ex-England players Rachel Yankey and Katie Chapman, who will be the first women to represent England in Socceraid on June 16, said they were strongly in favour of men and women playing separately from the age of 18 and would recommend the threshold be lowered to 16. ‘There has to be a point that they split off and go into their separate genders,’ said Yankey. And Chapman echoed her views, saying: ‘Under 18 Boys are quicker and stronger than you. That is the difference between our mechanics. Do you want to put women into a situation where they are falling behind from the start? Not really.’