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IT WAS FANTASTIC to see female footballers finally being recognised at the Ballon d’Or awards – the most prestigious awards in football, this week.
It was a momentous occasion for women footballers and fans – as well as for equality in sports.
Of course, its a shame that such an occasion was marred by a sexist question when the presenter asked the winner, Norway star forward Ada Hegerberg, if she could twerk.
That incident was very disappointing. I think women’s football has made great progress in recent years as has women’s sport in general, but it is clear that sexism is still a problem.
It’s pretty obvious when it comes to the questions that some interviewers ask female players – would they have ever have asked any of the lads that question?
I was impressed that Hegerberg handled the incident with great dignity and professionalism, with the way she shunned the question and showed her disappointment, her body language said it all.
She was still able to go on and give a very good acceptance speech and she is an outstanding role model for young women around the world.
Her handling of the whole debacle just goes to show how resilient we are as women – but it shouldn’t be something that we should have to get used to.
Personally I have been quite lucky, but certainly my teammates have experienced being asked awkward, inappropriate questions. Some say they have been asked personal questions about their relationships that wouldn’t be asked of a male sports person.
I’ve certainly heard a few horror stories, and really it couldn’t get much weirder than – “do you want to twerk?”
The presenter said it was a joke – but there is a time and place for personal jokes.
It took away from Hegerberg’s big moment and in some ways, it tarnished her achievement but the incident has also drawn attention to sexism in sport.
For women to be recognised on the world stage in football’s most important awards is real progress and hopefully, we can keep building on that and make football an equal playing field.
In recent years several other major football awards have started to include women.
The Professional Footballers Association in England started to nominate a female player of the year in 2012/2013. That same year UEFA also launched a female player of the year award.
Its only right that women are getting these awards and it is definitely a step in the right direction. We are training just as hard as the male athletes, and putting in the same hours.
As well as awards though we need recognition of our hard work from football fans and the media as well.
I’d like to see more women playing and getting involved in coaching and refereeing. The FAI ran an all-female coaching course recently and things like that are just as important as awards.
As women, we have to look at ourselves and take responsibility for growing the sport as well.
Perhaps this incident should serve as an inspiration to all of us to fight harder to ensure that young girls who take up football today, don’t have to face objectification and inappropriate questions.
In our efforts to do that, players like Ada Hegerberg are an inspiration to us all.
Even though she got this knockback of being asked a ridiculous question she wasn’t going to let it ruin her big moment. It is leadership and vision from people like her that will help us to stamp out sexism in sport.
Louise Quinn is a defender for Ireland and Arsenal.
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Wow, that escalated quickly. This is getting weird..
Brazil is a of BRICS member not a member of the IMF. Great country.
There has been nothing but negativity from the western media about Rio. The same happened with the world cup in south Africa and again we were told to fear for our lives if going to Ukraine for any of the euros matches. But what other country could or has hosted the world cup and the Olympics one after the other, it’s an incredible feat in all fairness. The corruption in world games has been the same for decades. London 2012 was beset by problems from the word go, the shambles inspired an entire tv series on the incompetence and a new word omni-shambles. For me Rio has provided a most interesting back drop to the Olympics, during the road races we got to see live footage of ordinary favelas and the landscape is incredible
The BRICS countries have some of the most sustainable debt on the planet. They will financially own the planet by the end of the century. They have economies more robust and productive than any service led debt trap economy like our own.
They must have pulled a stroke
London 2012 was a shambles- really?
Some people will go to any ‘lengths’.
An Beal bocht south Africas poor are still feeling the effects of the world cup and so will Rio s poor feel the effects of building multi million dollar facilities for years to come. Why because our currupt sporting governing bodies want to milk and we don’t care as long as we get a fairytail medal story.
I don’t get why they lied. Makes no sense. I’m not doubting the police but I just don’t understand their motivation.
Why? Over privileged, over indulged, golden boys misbehaved on a session and rather be shown up for the brats they are, they made up a story to make them look like the victims.
I can’t fathom their motive either. Why slander the hosting country? Did they break some curfew? Is their story that they were on their way back when delayed by muggers? Would it be that they lost money and were annoyed about that? (Assuming here that they were told to pay for the damage on the spot).
Daisy; good call
My heart goes out to Brazil, diverse society, and as so much potential. Why does everyone want to trample them. Yes they have corruption but what country does not?
Why is anyone surprised? Whilst we’ve become accustomed and almost numb to Christians flattening other continents with advanced military technology as part of the 4th Crusade,these young white men failed to check their privilege,and the Brazilian cops weren’t having any of it. The Olympic organisers in Rio should have had stricter checks on Christians entering the country to avert such lawlessness.
The word Omni-Shambles came from The Thick of It not from the series 2012.
Tariq you’re being a bit silly now.
Maybe the standard of discourse is beyond you Jamie.
No Tariq, you are being nonsensical.
Ever think of talking about the invasion of Europe by muslims hordes in the 2nd, 3rd ,5th, 6th and 8th centuries considering your waffling about Crusades. But your sort never deal with facts do they. Muslims countries are sh%tholes due to Muslims no one else.
No Muslims in the 2nd or 3rd centuries Angry.
I see the comments section is open for this Olympics story but I’m wary as I’m confused what constitutes allowed and legal in these types of situations?
I also wonder if they had first class tickets. They can be very expensive, especially from distances much further away than America.
The journal has been pulled into line by the fiannas and it now shuts down comments when ever the fiannas ask it.
Much the same as RTE the journal is not am impartial form of media rather it answers to the beck and call of the fiannas
The Journal has policies regarding comments, you sign up to these when you subscribe.
North Korea has similar views on free speech – it’s a joke that those in the fiannas feel they should mute the opinions of the nation and will ultimately fail, it’s a shame as the journal was a champion of free speech at one point
the fiannas have neutered this website, pity as it was good despite hugh and his love for fg.
if the journal was serious it would have at least 4/5 pending cases from our much overlooked foreign billionaire!!! dob’s jim’ ill fix it medal.
@Jimmy- but this is a judicial/criminal matter in Brazil and we can comment on it, wheras Hickey’scase is a judicial/criminal matter in Brazil and we can’t? (There are no Irish criminal charges pending so some explanation as to the inconsistency would be nice)
basically del if you have connections and are likely to sue the comments section is closed
Remember how rich Liam Lawlors interpreter became when the media wrongly reported that she was a prostitute?
she died, RIP, as did lawlor, who was a leech like burke and bertie. no comparison.
No she didn’t, that’s why she could sue.
@donal, your right apologies.
@Dara Wyer
I don’t think that trial by jury exists in Brazil. Furthermore, Portuguese is the main language in Brazil. Therefore, it’s unlikely that people involved in the judicial process in Brazil would be swayed by an English-language article on an Irish website.
Besides, nobody has yet been charged in this case. Therefore, it’s not “sub judice” yet.
This is not about fear of being sued this is political intervention in how people communicate.
My recollection is that she couldn’t sue because she had no existing reputation in Ireland which could be damaged??
Aren’t comments only closed, when they are closed, if charges are brought?
No, the sub judice rule applies when proceedings are reasonably expected
@Ciarán- exactly, but an explanation by the Journal would be welcome…
Horse sh#t this is an international incident of the like never seen by this country and we are not allowed talk about it. This is about the entire nations sporting reputation and someone in the fiannas has chosen to shut down parts of our media.
why do we have media blackouts ?
To prevent prejudice
Two reasons for not being able to comment, I’d guess: someone accused can argue “pre-judged by media” makes it impossible that they could have a fair trial and they get let off. Or a pending investigation here, because there’s talk of that happening “after the summer recess”.
Del, let’s not start quaking at the possibility of ‘impeding due process’ nothing gets done here. Let rip!!
It has to be said these Brazilian police don’t mess about, they have been a welcome distraction from this appalling Olympics which appears to have tge management mentality of FIFA, Pat the Bully Hickey certainly got a belated rude awakening, so did his son (no doubt all expenses paid holiday to Brazil) . When is the world going to wake up to corruption in the entire world of sport. For my mind the Brazilian Police for are deserving of a GOLD MEDAL.
Perhaps the Brazilian police could be seconded to Ireland to deal with our bankers? Lol
The whole world is corrupt and it’s being proven more and more everyday, it’s destroying what’s left of the fabric of society.
“team-mates were held up by muggers posing as police” – who said there weren’t REAL police in the first place. Maybe that’s why they are taking this so far.
The world has always been corrupt, our eyes are only getting opened its scale.
The Brazilian police are scary.
Pat Hickey is now representing Ireland – he’s for the high jump!!!
Given the opportunity id say he would do a good time sprinting out of Brazil!
It will be interesting to see what lengths this lot go to to get home.
I thought he was fencing (tickets)
No medal for him in the over 70 Hide And Seek final.
There is definitely a hidden story the general public haven’t heard about yet that both the U.S. athletes involved and the Brazilian authorities know about but hasn’t been made public yet.
Any theories? Because I’m hugely confused by the whole thing.
I don’t know what’s going on but no matter how this ends up I wouldn’t trust the Brazilian police or government. Having the Olympics in Rio is almost the equivalent of having it in North Korea.
Get real
Yep Stephen look how they stitched up poor pat nevin. I actually wish they would do a stint over here never mind our Mickey Mouse enquiries
Pat Hickey how are ya now? Hope the healths better
According to the daily mail he was hiding from the police in a hotel room under his sons name with his wife telling the police he left the country.
I read that too, surely the wife would have been seen as perverting the course of justice and therefore questioned herself?
The Daily Mail are gonna get sued! Hickey is gonna get rich.! “Hiding”? “Left the country” ? wide open for big money for Hickey. Lucky Hickey has struck the mother lode.
John Delaney has announced that he is ready to step up and replace the arrested members of the US Olympic Swimming Team if he gets the call.
Delaney promised nothing, delivers nothing, and is cheered on as a hero as he bought a round or two. he still thanks his dad for making it all possible…..
So, just to sum up, the head of Irish Olympics has been arrested for questioning the Brazilian authorities approach to ticketing issue, American swimmers have been arrested for making Brazil look bad BUT the judges in the Conlon fight are free to walk around after robbing him blind in front of the whole world! Hmmm
The Brazilian Police have always been considered a bit of a joke, a bit corrupt and not really a professional policing body by best practice standards.
Along come the Olympics with all its associated pomp and corruption and waiting in the long grass are the much maligned BPD waiting to show just how effective they can be at tackling criminality at the elite formerly untouchable level.
All true but doesn’t mean they aren’t right now. They do also police and catch people commiting crimes.
Sounds a bit like the the Irish police force, who right of penalty points and drink driving charges if you have the right connections.
Poeple in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
For those unfamiliar with the great mind of Ryan Lochte: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dlyCTswYH0
Anything is possible with this case, including the whole thing being made up.
Wow that was like one long outtake from Bill and Teds excellent adventure
A first instance who decided that Brazil was the right place for the summer Olympic Games? We all know Brazil is not safe even with 3million police on the streets.
“We all know it’s not safe”, have you been to Rio? How do you know it’s not safe exactly. Do you “know” if New York or LA is any safer?
Assuming their story is a fabrication, why would they make this up? Not to bruise the ego or something
The real story is probally worse,im guessing, lost all money to prostitutes, took plenty of drugs on the lash, dieing for a whiz and broke a toilet door. Taxi man has’nt come forward so was paid not to tell what happened. After 4 years strict training you can imagine what one could do when finished.
If the IOC are saying it didn’t happen then it must have happened
What happened was this:
Lochte and the lads were out on the rip. They tried to use a men’s room at a gas station but couldn’t get in and they ended up breaking the door. An armed security guard came after them and demanded they pay for the damage.
Indeed, and then they told a big fat lie.
You would ask yourself what the purpose of the false report was?. Why did they fabricate the story in the first place?. Was it to detract from the fact they caused criminal damage to a loo door. Does Lochte still have the ‘robbed’ wallet? Weird stuff. Anyway talk about being caught rotten. My guess is Lochte wont be flavour of the month with the 2 left behind.
He was Lockted out.
Best olympics yet..the drama is great..
Jeasus these Brazilians are taking no s”ite.
What is it about Olympians and toilet doors and lying?????
I hear Pat Hockey will be representing them on behalf of Olympic Integrity Committee. They are delighted he is on their side.
Trying to avoid drug testers ?
Why bother having Olympics anyway ?The poor in Brazil don’t gain they are been slaughtered plus don’t get the cash that’s been made to rebuild homes for their family’s !!
I say shame on them all ….
Busted!
The police can get the reg number of the taxi from the cctv. Then they can contact the driver.
What an awful Olympics this has been.
Hiya, let me just go ahead and click your wonderful link there…
They’re trying to make a big splash by claiming Brazil is a dive and the police are medalling.
Don’t believe me?? Goggle it!
I can almost imagine them probably shouting “do you not know who we are” or something to that affect to security and guy running the store
There’s a very strong possibility they were mugged ok.Rio is renowned for it.But they probably made a meal out of it.And Brazil in general has a bad reputation. Police being over sensitive and have chips on their shoulders over their reputation. If it was any other country this would be a storm in a teacup! They are more worried about their tourism.
A “gas station altercation” sounds like it was hilarious
Idiots !
Ahahahahaha what an actual sap!
As long as Kayla doesn’t draw a Blank cheque.
Reckon the lads were trying to cover up something they were doing in the toilet together, I’ll leave that to the imagination! They paid the security guard who found the broken door handle money, need I say more
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