The jerk who twerked us back to the seventies
YOU can try, if you like, to separate the ‘joke’ from the wider problem of sexism in sport. After all, when there are so many more glaring examples of discrimination and deeply unpleasant attitudes towards female footballers, how much does one badly-judged attempt at humour really matter? Quite a lot, as it happens.
In the wake of DJ Martin Solveig inviting Ada Hegerberg to ‘twerk’ at the Ballon D’Or presentation ceremony, it didn’t take long for the tactic known as ‘The Banter Defence’ to be deployed.
Fine. It was a gag gone awry. A horrible, David Brent-esque crack so inappropriate that it could almost pass for alternative cringe comedy. Almost.
But even if you accept Solveig’s apology, as Hegerberg graciously did, you have to acknowledge what his performance says about underlying prejudices against the women’s game.
The issue isn’t just that he took a swing and a miss with a risky one-liner. It’s that he felt comfortable enough to do so in a room full of the footballing establishment.
A professional entertainer, someone who makes money out of judging the feel of an audience, looked around and thought: ‘Yeah, this is safe ground for a 1970s-themed bit of sauce. With a modern twist. Or twerk.’
The worry is that he might have gauged the crowd even a little bit right.
Clearly, there are some who cannot move past their deeplyheld, deeply-rooted, deeply wrongheaded belief that ‘ladies’ shouldn’t play football. Or shouldn’t be encouraged, anyway.
They’re the same guys who see nothing wrong with grid girls, ring girls or scantily-clad cheerleaders included as eye candy ‘for the Dads’. Proper blokes who make the same joke about swapping shirts and Gregory’s Girl when confronted with the brain-melting sight of elite footballers who happen to be of another gender.
And anyone who has worked in women’s football can testify that, although a new generation of boys may be far more supportive of the girls they often play alongside, the old guard remain firmly entrenched. Not least within certain corners of the men’s game.
Former Scotland captain Gemma Fay insisted yesterday that Solveig disrespecting inaugural Women’s Ballon D’Or winner Hegerber does not represent ‘a one-off incident’.
Fay declared: ‘Casual sexism still exists in sport.’
Scotland national team head coach Shelley Kerr, meanwhile, surely spoke for many women and men when she railed against the belittling of a player who has won the Champions League three times, adding with some sadness: ‘And this is 2018.’ Yes, it’s hard to accept such attitudes still prevail. But the good news? The reaction.
That goes for at least some of those in the room at the time of the gaffe, with young Kylian Mbappe’s expression an absolute picture.
He was like the dumbfounded kid at Christmas dinner, wideeyed and wondering if his drunken uncle really just made that comment about Germans.
And the sense of outrage was certainly evident in much of the response since, with Andy Murray — arguably the world’s most high-profile male sporting feminist — diving straight in with a battle cry on behalf of his fellow athletes. One more reason to love the guy, right?
As for Solveig, the man who started all of this with his wander down misogyny lane, well, he is to be pitied.
And, on behalf of those who usually spend the day after the Ballon D’Or coronation fielding abuse for voting the ‘wrong’ way, he also deserves thanks for deflecting some of the flak.
Honestly, every year we have to cope with the same army of crazies who spend their lives looking for ways to be offended on behalf of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar or some other ‘god’ to whom they worship.
Vote for Messi instead of Ronaldo and you’re a mug who deserves to be sacked. And vice-versa.
This year, going for Luka Modric — the clear and obvious choice — guaranteed fire from all sides.
In fact, the only time the level of stick is certain to be worse is when this column devotes some space to praising Kerr and the national team she’s guided with such skill.
Hail the Scotland side for reaching the World Cup finals, dare to suggest that changing demographics and attitudes mean younger members of the Tartan Army will be glued to their adventures in France next summer, and you’re in for an absolute torrent of abuse about the ‘third-rate girlies’ being given too much prominence in the sports pages.
One recent frothing communique even included the memorable line: ‘Oh, and I take offence at being called a misogynist!’
Well, at least that got a laugh. Which put Mr Angry one up on Solveig. Ah, the banter.