Kerr grateful to Murray as Hegerberg row deflects from World Cup draw

Scotland head coach Shelley Kerr says she admires Andy Murray for continuing to call out sexism in sport, but is frustrated that the issue has dominated the headlines at the start of a momentous week for women’s football.

Kerr, who had a long playing career and held a similar managerial position at men’s Lowland League side Stirling University before replacing Anna Signeul last summer, said: “We’re in 2018. It’s not acceptable.”

The former central defender’s ire was directed at French disc jockey Martin Solveig, who crassly asked Lyon and Norwaystrikeradahegerberg if she knew how to twerk after she had become the first winner of the women’s Ballon d’or on Monday night.

Murray, as he often does, took to social media to state: “I’ve been involved in sport my whole life, and the level of sexism is unreal.”

Kerr added: “We should be talking about a fantastic achievement. It’s the inaugural Ballon d’or (for women).

“Ada Hegerberg is an exceptional young talent, 23 years old with over 250 goals. She has won the Champions League three times.

“As well as that, we are in the build-up to the World Cup draw in Paris on Saturday. We’re competing in the finals for the first time and we also have England who have announced this week they are going to be hosting Euro 2021.

“Instead we’re talking about an inappropriate comment. I’ve been involved in the women’s game for over 40 years. We

shouldn’t need to be educating people in this day and age.”

Of Murray’s comments, she said: “Andy has grown up with a mother who is a female coach and a role model – and he’s an absolute role model himself. I like how he portrays himself and coming out and supporting us is what we need.

“We shouldn’t need to be educating people to say the right things in 2018, but unfortunately we are.”

One of Kerr’s best players, winger Fiona Brown, is the same age as Hegerberg and, like Murray, comes from Dunblane. She said: “Ada could have flown off the handle to be honest, and she would have been perfectly within her rights to do so. It’s a credit to her that she didn’t. It’s a shame we’re not talking about her

0 Shelley Kerr: Disappointed

achievements, but how she was embarrassed in front of a worldwide audience.

“Andy has spoken a lot about this sort of thing previously. He’s witnessed it a lot and he’s using his platform to get the awareness out there.”

Kerr will be accompanied by Scotland performance director Malky Mackay at the World Cup draw in the Seine Musicale