Women’s World Cup 2023: ‘Sexist’ FIFA slammed over gross World Cup oversight

FIFA has been labelled “misogynistic” and “a disgrace” for an embarrassing error on the opening day of the Women’s World Cup.

Police at the scene of this morning’s deadly shooting in Auckland, just 300m from where the Norwegian team is staying. Picture: 1News

FIFA have scored the worst kind of own goal before a ball has even been kicked at the Women’s World Cup with the federation slammed for a gross oversight in their commentary team for the Women’s World Cup.

Despite some world class names working with local and international broadcast media, not a single woman has been named on FIFA’s world feed commentary team with fans describing it as an “absolute disgrace”.

“Are we in 2023 or 1950? It’s the women’s World Cup, yet … here is our all singing, all dancing all male commentary team!” wrote Sally Freedman, a journalist from the UK.

A list of nine names – all male - was released on social media in a bid to hype up the world feed ahead of tonight’s opening match between New Zealand and Norway and the reaction spoke for itself.

Words such a “disgrace”, “poor” “embarrassing” and “misogynistic” were used.

It took another 24 hours before FIFA confirmed it had named a “co-commentary” team (whatever that mean) including Izzy Christiansen, Laura Bassett, Rehanne Skinner, Amy Chapman and Melissa Barbieri.

It did little to ease the wave of criticism with fans questioning why the women were being listed separately.

World Feed commentary for the 2023 @FIFAWWC.

Auckland - Steve Wilson
Sydney - Robbie Thomson
Dunedin - John Roder
Melbourne - Simon Hill
Wellington - Chris Wise
Hamilton - Paul Walker
Brisbane/Adelaide - Simon Brotherton
Brisbane - Kevin Keatings
Perth - Mark Scott

— Brenton Ray (@brentonrkaring) July 18, 2023

1:05PM JETLAG KICKING IN

Every long-distance flyer knows how debilitating jet lag can be, but now imagine you need to train right away and then play in a football World Cup.

Even the stars of the Women’s World Cup are not immune to the dreaded jet lag, so teams flying over to Australia and New Zealand have come up with a variety of ways -- some novel, others less so -- to try to combat it.

“Time for the chrono glasses. Doing our best to beat the jet lag,” European champions England tweeted prior to their more than 10,000-mile (16,000-km), 22-hour slog to Australia. At least they were in business.

The smiling players were pictured wearing futuristic-looking glasses with orange lenses.

The shades were light glasses designed by the Dutch-based company Propeaq and designed to trick the eyes to encourage or discourage sleep.

The Lionesses had a pre-tournament briefing on how to combat jet lag, including what steps to take before flying halfway across the globe to Australia, according to The Times.

Teams flying off for the World Cup have come up with their own methods in an effort to get their players on the training pitch and raring to go as soon as possible after touching down.

12:45PM WORLD CUP TEAM ‘METRES FROM NZ SHOOTING’ AS FIFA RESPONDS

The Women’s World Cup opener will go ahead despite a fatal shooting in Auckland CBD.

Three people are dead, including the gunman and at least six others were injured after a a 24-year-old opened fire in Auckland where New Zealand are set to host Norway in the first match.

Local media reported a significant police operation was unfolding close to The Cloud - a FIFA fan zone in the CBD - at 7am local time.

A reporter at the scene said she heard five gunshots while another was told to shelter behind something ‘hard and solid’.

The incident happened in the Queen Street and Quay Street area.

A statement released by FIFA confirmed that matches would go ahead as planned.

“FIFA extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives following the incident which occurred this morning in Auckland, New Zealand, and our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have been injured in this tragic incident.

“Immediately following the incident, President Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary-General Fatma Samoura were in communication with the New Zealand authorities. FIFA has also been in constant contact with the participating teams affected by this incident.

“FIFA has been informed that this was an isolated incident that was not related to football operations and the opening match tonight at Eden Park will proceed as planned. The opening hours of the FIFA Fan Festival in Auckland city centre will be confirmed in due course.

“The participating teams in close proximity to this incident are being supported in relation to any impact that may have taken place.”

Active shooting incident in Auckland CBD. Here for the FIFA WWC, but what a dramatic shift. Just hours away from the opening match. @SkyNewsAustpic.twitter.com/yv1bgjyTYV

— Jessica Maggio (@jbmaggio) July 19, 2023

10:58AM MATCHES PROCEED AS PLANNED

New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said: “We have been in regular contact with FIFA and today’s match will proceed as planned.

“The police do not think there will be an ongoing safety risk.

“We will have increased police presence.”

Echoing the PM’s sentiments, New Zealand sports minister Grant Roberston said the tournament would start as normal.

“They (players) are all safe and sound and as the cordon moves in, they will go about the normal business of today for them,” Mr Robertson said.

“For some of them that involves playing, this evening that involves moving to other locations in New Zealand to play their games, so they will, in the course of the next few hours, do what they were always going to do, go to training and play and so on.

“I am aware of one team that was in a hotel that was immediately around the corner from the building and it is down town Auckland and all of the hotels have people associated with the

tournament.”

Our thoughts are with the World Cup co-hosts and the people of Auckland 🙏🏻

— Lionesses (@Lionesses) July 19, 2023

10:09AM FA SPEAK ON AUCKLAND

Peter Filopoulos Head of Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs with Football Australia has tweeted: “Deeply saddened by the shocking incident in Auckland. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families in these difficult times.

“As a peace-loving nation, we stand with New Zealand in solidarity.

“The situation seems to be contained now, thanks to NZ authorities. This incident is unrelated to the Women’s World Cup. Stay safe everyone.”

Construction workers shelter on the roof of a building in Downtown Auckland

TEAM NZ AND NORWAY SAFE

In the aftermath of the incident, New Zealand Football, who are set to get the Women’s World Cup underway against Norway at 5pm AEST today, released a statement confirming all players were safe and accounted for.

“New Zealand Football are shocked by the incident in Auckland CBD this morning,” it said.

“We can confirm that all of the Football Ferns team and staff are safe but we will not be able to comment further while details are still emerging.

“Please refer to New Zealand Police for further information.”

Team Norway delivered a similar message.

Their accommodation is located 300m from the location of the shooting.

Captain Maren Mjeldeb said: “Everyone probably woke up quite quickly when the helicopter hovered outside the hotel window and a large number of emergency vehicles arrived.

“At first we didn’t know what was going on, but eventually there were updates on TV and the local media.

“We felt safe the whole time. FIFA has a good security system at the hotel, and we have our own security officer in the squad.

“Everyone seems calm and we are preparing as normal for the game tonight. Then we may have to adapt if there are any instructions from the authorities.”

TACKLE THAT HAD WORLD CUP STARS ‘FEARING FOR THEIR BODIES’

Experienced midfielder Denise O’Sullivan is fit for Ireland’s opening match at the Women’s World Cup against co-hosts Australia after being hurt in the abandoned friendly with Colombia.

O’Sullivan was rushed to hospital last week after a fierce tackle in a closed-doors warm-up match against the South Americans that was called off after 23 minutes with the Irish players “fearing for their bodies”.

There was concern that the 102-cap star had sustained a leg fracture that could jeopardise her tournament.

But coach Vera Pauw said Wednesday that she had made a remarkable recovery and was fit to play in front of an estimated 80,000 fans at Stadium Australia in Sydney on the opening day of the World Cup.

“We are very open, we have nothing to hide. Denise is fit, she will play,” Pauw said, adding that the 29-year-old had resumed full-contact training.

Despite their worries over Colombia’s physicality captain Katie McCabe said they could give as good as they got and were ready for similar treatment from the Sam Kerr-led Australia, one of the World Cup favourites.

“We knew obviously that Colombia were going to be physical but that is going to be the case in every game,” said the long-time Arsenal player.

“We’re Irish, we don’t shy away from physicality, it’s ingrained in us, the hardworking team we are.

“So yes, we are ready for Australia to be physical tomorrow, we’ll be prepared to match it.”

Foul on Denise O’Sullivan in Ireland v Colombia game. Match abandoned moments later. pic.twitter.com/CKrYsiT4xP

— Gavin Cummiskey (@Cumoski) July 16, 2023

BRAZIL MAKE MAJOR CHANGES TO WORK HOURS

Brazil will change civil servants’ work schedules so they can watch the national team play in the women’s World Cup -- a concession until now reserved for the men’s top-flight football tournament.

The employees can start their work days later so as to take in the tournament starting Thursday in Australia and New Zealand.

“It is a measure of equity to give civil servants wishing to watch the matches the same rights as during the men’s World Cup,” the minister for management and innovation, Esther Dweck, said in a statement.

As the tournament gets under way on the other side of the world, Brazil’s team will start their games at either 7:00 am or 8:00 am Brazilian time.

The ministry statement said that on days when the team sees action, civil servants can report for work up to two hours after the end of play.

Brazil’s first match of the tournament is Monday against Panama in Brisbane. The ministry said employees who start work later than usual because of games have to make up those hours later in the year.

Because of the expected absence of so many employees Monday morning, Brazil’s central bank has postponed by one day the release of economic output and inflation figures.

In both the public and private sector, people’s work hours change during the men’s World Cup as the nation comes to a standstill to watch the beloved national men’s team, called the Seleçao in Portuguese, which has won the trophy five times.

But this is the first time the central government has made such a change for its civil servants to watch the women’s World Cup.

Originally published as Women’s World Cup 2023: ‘Sexist’ FIFA slammed over gross World Cup oversight