DJ drags down huge lift for women’s game
● Spotlight should have shone on Hegerberg but Solveig’s twerk ‘joke’ put him in firing line
ANDY MURRAY
misguided gag about a dance move which – let’s be frank here – is highly sexually provocative.
Solveig did say sorry afterwards – albeit in the “if anyone was offended” mode, rather than an out-andout apology. And he only did so once the internet had become a raging inferno of incredulity.
There are some who say Solveig should be given the benefit of the doubt – Hegerberg did indeed say later that she “understood it was a joke”.
But even if we take him at his word that “he didn’t want to offend anyone” then the question remains as to why he thought it was even remotely a good idea in the first place.
It bears repeating that despite the fact that women in 176 countries play the game, and that international competitions have been taking place since the early 1970s, this is the first time a female award has been handed out.
It was a momentous occasion, one that showed that the gargantuan gulf between the men’s and women’s
“Another example of the ridiculous sexism that still exists. I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”
game is narrowing infinitesimally. And as such, sensitivities were high. Every word, action and gesture was sure to be forensically observed.
And as such, Solveig’s gaffe was met with gaping mouths around the world. Andy Murray, the British former world No 1 tennis player, said: “Another example of the ridiculous sexism that still exists in sport.
“To everyone who thinks people are overreacting and it was just a joke... it wasn’t. I’ve been involved in sport my whole life and the level of sexism is unreal.”
It is incidents like this which will perpetuate that sexism. Because even if Solveig’s intentions were only to make us laugh (we didn’t), we are talking about his blunder, rather than the achievements of an elite athlete.
Speaking of which, Hegerberg has scored 38 goals for Norway in 66 appearances. She was part of the Norwegian team that got to the final of the 2013 European Championships. She was named best young player at the 2015 World Cup. At club level she won the Champions League with Lyon three years in a row. Also with Lyon, between 2015 and 2017, she helped her club to the treble, including the league title and domestic cup. She has won the title every year with Lyon. She has scored over 200 career goals for her clubs at a rate of over one per game. But can she twerk? Who cares.
on Saturday but, before then, the Scottish FA will discuss whether or not to oppose Football Association plans for a Team GB women’s team at the Tokyo Olympics.
Fifa announced two months ago that all four home nations had agreed to allow players to be selected provided England qualify for one of the three European places available at the World Cup. However, the SFA are believed to be having second thoughts and the matter will be discussed at tomorrow’s board meeting.
“The three [Scottish] players involved in 2012 enjoyed the experience,” Kerr said. “That’s all I can comment on at this moment.”