Sexism in football is a blight that stubbornly persists, even in the face of decades of struggle for gender equality. Angela, a 72-year-old passionate Liverpool supporter, has been watching football matches throughout her life, but still finds herself questioning her presence in the stadium. “Shut up. What do you know about football? You should be in the kitchen preparing your husband’s tea,” says Angela, a testament to the prejudice that still permeates the world of football.
According to the anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out, there were 131 recorded incidents of sexism in football stadiums between the start of the season and the end of February, an alarming number that more than doubles compared to the same period last season. An anonymous fan reveals the depth of the problem, stating that misogyny in the sport has led her to refrain from taking her daughter to men’s games. “I will take her to the women’s game, if that isn’t ruined, but I won’t take her to the men’s games until she is much older,” she confesses. “I wouldn’t feel safe and definitely wouldn’t want to expose her to sexism.”
A BBC Sport investigated the reality of women in stadiums, consulting fans, police authorities, and experts to understand the prevalence of sexism in football and the necessary solutions to combat it. Zoe Hitchen, a sports photographer, shares her bitter experience documenting men’s football matches between 2008 and 2010. “It was common to be targeted by sexist chants, and I was often asked, ‘Do you even know what football is?'” she reports. The pressure was constant, and Zoe felt that to attend men’s matches, she had to “smile and endure.” The harassment didn’t just come from fans, but even from mascots, who would engage in unacceptable gestures: “The mascot would come and grab me.” Despite reporting these incidents, nothing was done by the club authorities.
Another fan, who also wishes to remain anonymous, expresses her indignation: “How dare they try to belittle you or push you out of something you love?” The experience of using bathrooms in stadiums reveals even more the normalization of the invasion of female spaces, with reports of men invading women’s stalls.
In the online world, sexism shows no mercy. Simran Atwal, a Derby County fan and volunteer for the Her Game Too campaign, shares that most of the abuse she faces occurs through social media. “The images I post can end up on other people’s accounts, and once there, anyone can comment,” she states. The posts become targets for sexualized comments, without her having control over the situation. The problem is further exacerbated by the manipulation of images through artificial intelligence, where photos of women are altered to make it appear that they are in swimwear, a practice illegal in the UK, but which continues to be a terrifying reality.
In light of all this, the question that arises is: is sexism in football a reflection of a larger societal crisis? With the increase in reports of abuse, both in stadiums and online, it is imperative to take a clear and decisive stance against this entrenched problem. The fight against sexism in football is a battle that should not be underestimated and requires the attention and action of all involved, from clubs to fans. It is time to stop silencing women’s voices and ensure that football is an inclusive space for all.
This article first appeared on Apito Final.
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