Woman in football - World Cup

Vicki Sparks

This World Cup is refreshing on two points first the unpredictability of the games and the number of woman as pundits and another first a woman commentating on a game BUT sadly not always welcomed.

There have been some interesting results in the opening groups. Argentina surprisingly held by debutants Iceland and in their next game losing 3-0 to Croatia the biggest shock. At leaves them depending on others to progress into the last sixteen.

Vicki Sparks was the main commentator for the BBC on Portugal v Morocco and I thought she did a great job. I have to say when I came in and switched the game on it was a shock for all of a few seconds. I watched the game and didn’t feel the need to turn the sound off she interacted well with her male colleague covering the game I was happy to watch and listen. But social media in some cases were not supportive one being former player Leon Knight who posted on Twitter a number of uncalled for remarks 

The former England defender and Captain John Terry posted on "Having to watch this game with no volume”. This was during the Portugal vs Morocco game, and it didn't go unnoticed that Terry had decided to post during a game for which the lead commentator was a woman.

In an Instagram video, he said, "I just wanted to address an Instagram story that I posted earlier today that I have since deleted.

"I came home from holiday at the Maldives today around two o'clock, to find there's no audio in the house working whatsoever.

"Since then they've been able to fix it, so everything's working again now but I was watching the game with no volume".

True or false who knows I have my opinion.

Aluko and Evra 

While over on ITV’s coverage former Manchester United player Patrice Evra was called 'sexist' and 'patronising' for his reaction to Juventus forward and fellow pundit Eni Aluko clapping after she made a point, and even said 'she even knows more than us [the male pundits]' why would she not.

Woman are here in football to stay and who knows one day a woman will maybe break into management of a Football League club. The involvement of woman in football gets thumbs up from me. Woman are flocking to football their boyfriends or husbands are not dragging them along to games these days it could be the opposite. Not just single woman but families, it would be beneficial if clubs could remember that when it comes to pricing games.

It is not unusual to see groups of woman decked out in a team’s shirt heading to the game or sitting in the pub waiting for kick-off. If just before kick-off, you asked woman in the crowd to leave it would seriously deplete the crowd so the Neanderthals who believe it’s a man’s game please sit down.

Did you see the jubilant Iranian women fans cheering their World Cup team they are banned back in Iran from entering football stadiums. But are things about to change with female fans allowed to watch the game at a stadium in Tehran on a big screen. It was the first time in 37 years and hopefully continue after the World Cup.

She was a pornstar you know

Most woman fans and some men are taking issue with cameraman and directors seeking out pretty and beautiful model type female fans like Russian fan Natalya Nemchinov who can be tagged as “seen on TV” after the Russia v Saudi Arabia game. Now outed as a former porn star and you have to hope her husband and family knew about her past employment.

Even today we have (Peru’s number one fan) Nissu Cauti promising to whip her top off if Peru scores against Russia later today. I have no problem if woman fans want to dress/look sexy at games but I do they are used for titillation.

Totally the wrong image for modern day football. A footnote to woman in football looking forward to Wales woman playing England in August where the winners of the game will win a place at next summer's Women's World Cup finals in France.

Nissu Cauti known as the 'girlfriend' because of her love

of the Peruvian national football team