Blatter's Remarks About Women's Soccer Uniforms Draw Reax
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Blatter Taking Criticism For
Remarks About Women’s Soccer |
After FIFA President Sepp Blatter said last week that women's
soccer players should wear
sexier uniforms to bring more attention to the game, FIFA Media Dir Andreas
Herren said, "The remarks were by no means meant to be offensive — not
at all. Whatever he said, it was more a general remark, 'Let's take a look at
that.' But it's not the ultimate recipe to salvage the women's game because
he went on to say women's football has established itself and it has a future"
(AP, 1/17).
REAX: U.S. Women's National Team member Brandi Chastain
said of Blatter, "Anyone who thinks that a uniform will draw people to the game
is severely off base. The game of football itself is what brings people to the
stadium, not what the players are wearing. He should continue to focus on the
development of the women's game rather than trying to sexualize it." U.S. Women's
National Team member Julie Foudy: "Instead of talking about tight shorts, FIFA
should be focusing on increasing its support for the women's game" (AP, 1/17).
During a panel discussion at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's
annual convention in Charlotte, NC, former U.S. Women's National Team member
Tracy Ducar said, "I think the real question is who are you marketing yourself
to? Are you marketing yourself to little girls ... or are you marketing yourself
to the guy who wants to see the woman? I think we need to present ourselves
as feminine off the field. ... I don't think on the field we need to wear tighter
clothing." DC United President & CEO Kevin Payne: "I would find it offensive
that the only way some people thought the league could survive is to somehow
objectify the women. ... I can't imagine what President Blatter, who has actually
been a very strong supporter of women's soccer, ... was thinking when he said
that" (THE DAILY). Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women
& Sport Exec Dir Karin Lofstrom said players "want to be taken as an athlete
first, and if you have a uniform that's inappropriate, people think it's sex
that's selling it." Canadian Women's National Team coach Even Pellerud: "If
FIFA or soccer nations are not able to sell [women's soccer] ... maybe there's
another problem than how the players look" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/17).
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