Vile Matildas comments show disgraceful scene before World Cup

The Matildas are days away from the start of the Women’s World Cup, but there has been a dark side to their exploding popularity.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 14: Matildas celebrate a goal during the International Friendly match between the Australia Matildas and France at Marvel Stadium on July 14, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)

One step forward, two steps back.

The Matildas have become the subject of disgusting comments across social media ahead of their opening Women’s World Cup blockbuster against Ireland on Thursday night in Sydney.

Fresh from knocking off the No. 5 ranked French team, the Matildas are riding a wave of support unlike anything they have seen previously.

A record of crowd of 50,629 piled into Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Friday night — and that record will be blown apart when 80,000 turn up for the opening ceremony on Thursday night.

However, that increased visibility has in some dark corners of social media gone hand in hand with an increase in trolling and cyber abuse.

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World Cup broadcast partner Channel 7’s social media accounts have been littered with comments from social media users in the days leading up to the start of the tournament.

A weekend post from Seven’s official Twitter account, which featured a 15-second promotional video of the free-to-air broadcaster’s World Cup coverage, has become a scene of ugly comments and vile claims about the Aussie team.

Fans watching Australia’s win over France in Melbourne. Photo: Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images.

The post and the video have now gone viral with more than one million views.

“Was never a soccer fan before so would be a bit hypocritical to start now,” one Twitter user commented.

Another wrote: “Women play soccer?”.

There were also a series of comments that smeared the tournament’s reputation with claims some teams will be playing with “biological male” transgender players.

There have been further disparaging comments about the sexualities of the Australian players.

There were also plenty of fans that called out the trolling comments.

One fan wrote: “Lol bunch of insecure men in the comments. Woman’s football is actually entertaining, especially if you follow and are invested in a team (like Australia).

“Also this is one of the only codes (and the most popular in the world) where we have a top, world class player.”

Channel 7 is banking on that support with the network showing matches in prime time on its main channel. The network is showing 15 games while Optus Sport will carry every game of the tournament.

The partnership is expected to reach 10 million Australians during the tournament, which wraps up with the final on August 20.

Seven’s broadcast team features Mel McLaughlin, Bruce McAvaney, Adam Peacock, Emma Freedman, Matildas star Ellise Kellond-Knight, former Matildas player Heather Garriock and veteran football commentator David Basheer.

The Matildas are ready. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

The record-breaking moment. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

Outside the social media sphere the support for the Matildas has exploded.

And there are plans in place to make sure the momentum behind women’s football doesn’t end when the curtain comes down on the tournament — which is the biggest event Australia has hosted since the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

The Australian taxpayer is going to make sure of it with $230 million set to be spent on a “Legacy 23” plan to continue to drive the sport across all aspects of the sporting landscape.

Another reminder tonight of how far women’s sport has come in AUS in recent years

50K+ watching a friendly between the @TheMatildas & France at Marvel Stadium

86K at the MCG in 2020 to watch @AusWomenCricket win the T20 World Cup

Unimaginable crowds not that long ago 👏

— Glenn Mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) July 14, 2023

Wild the MCG near empty. Marvel stadium completely full for actual football. Never thought I’d finally see the day this happens. Will be the super super regular occurrence come 5 - 10 years time.

— Ash (@UTDAsh___) July 14, 2023

A sell-out crowd (50k+ expected) to watch the #Matildas host France at Marvel Stadium before the World Cup gets underway.

What a time to be alive.#FIFAWWCpic.twitter.com/DPbkhDk9nL

— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) July 14, 2023

A glorious crowd and atmosphere at Marvel Stadium for Australia v France #Matildas#WorldCup#France#AUSpic.twitter.com/Dfj72mRgdK

— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) July 14, 2023

No crowd at the G. Is everyone at Marvel Stadium #mcg#marvelstadiummelbourne

— Loui (@Magpies035) July 14, 2023

Matildas prove a 50k sell out at Docklands stadium still exists. Last week the AFL had sell outs of 43k and 39k at their venue

— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) July 14, 2023

The event, described by Football Australia CEO James Johnson as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, is expected to have a global audience of more than one billion people.

There were numerous cases of football being the hottest ticket in town on Friday night with the crowd easily surpassing the 38,030 people that watched the Demons-Lions match at the MCG.

After the game, Australian captain Sam Kerr, who was subbed out after 62 minutes, was happy with the hitout.

“It was always going to be an important game, they’re a great team and I thought we put in a great performance,” she said.

“But this is all about the journey and all about building confidence for next week.”

Asked what she learned from the performance, Kerr said: “We’re bloody quick.”

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time and it’s a dream come true bringing the World Cup to Oz and this crowd’s been amazing and this is why we do it — for the fans,” Kerr added.

“It’s been an unbelievable week and hopefully an unbelievable month to come.”