Calls to prioritise return of women’s sport
The momentum gained from the growth in women’s sport is at risk of being lost if it is not prioritised in discussions on how sport returns when lockdown measures are relaxed.
Such a warning comes amid concerns that women’s sport is being pushed down the agenda with devastating consequences.
Heather Knight, the England cricket captain, recently voiced concern at women’s sport becoming an afterthought and called for women to be “given the same sort of chance to get back playing as the men are”. Yet the impact of coronavirus is already starting to become evident, with AFC Fylde confirming last week that they were disbanding their women’s side.
Alison McGovern, the shadow sports minister, responded by telling The Daily Telegraph that the Football Association and the Government must “work together to make sure that women’s football isn’t the collateral damage of the current situation”.
Her thoughts were echoed by Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of the charity Women in Sport, who said: “Some big decisions need to be taken if we’re going to sustain the momentum that we’d kicked off in 2019, otherwise it will actually be put back. This could be an opportunity to give huge visibility to the women’s game, and would underline commercial credibility that ought to have been attached all along.”
Hilborne added that any decision must factor in injury risks involved in restarting leagues too suddenly, but if women’s sport were to be prioritised by
returning first it would be a “big, bold move” from governing bodies to ensure it did not regress.
Dominic Raab, the First Secretary of State, suggested that professional sport could return before amateur sport because of the level of testing that is available.
But Dr Brian McCloskey, public health adviser to the World Health Organisation, said a “bottom up, not top down” approach was more viable, with the emphasis on grass-roots and smaller events. Women’s sport, with its more manageable crowd sizes, would arguably present fewer practical complications.
FifPro, the global union for professional football, has already warned the coronavirus pandemic places the women’s game at risk of an “existential crisis”, adding to the argument for women’s sport to take greater priority in discussions over a safe return.
Julie Elliott, MP and a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: “We have already seen one women’s football team disband. For the future of the sport, we must stop this happening again. This means offering proper resources and financial support.
“If that does mean women’s football returning first, in safe and managed conditions that abide by scientific guidance, then that is an option that should be considered.”