Kerr slams ‘disrespectful’ date clash

Matildas captain Sam Kerr knows that when it comes to gender equality, big statements matter.

The world’s best player Ada Hegerberg has boycotted the Norwegian national team. Picture: AFP

Ada Hegerberg’s high-profile World Cup boycott isn’t really on Sam Kerr’s radar.

But the Matildas captain does know that when it comes to gender equality, big statements matter.

It’s why she’s riled that FIFA has scheduled two other major soccer finals on the same day as the final in France.

July 7 will play host not to only the biggest match in the women’s four-year cycle, but also the final of the Copa America in Brazil and the Concacaf Gold Cup in the US.

Adding to the ire is that the Women’s World Cup final will be a morning game in the US and an afternoon game in Europe, effectively making it an undercard to the two men’s regional cup finals played later.

In September last year, when the timetabling was made public, Kerr tweeted “OK FIFA, enough’s enough”.

She’s still struggling to comprehend it.

“They put the Gold Cup final and Copa America final on the same day as the final,” Kerr told The Weekend Australian.

“It’s just disrespectful for the women’s game. It would never be done for the men’s game.

“You’ve just got to take it and then just push for more next time.”

Kerr’s comments are timely, at a tournament perched on a platform of sweeping feminism and increased professionalism.

It’s why, days before the tournament kicked off, US co-captain Megan Rapinoe called for “a major paradigm shift”.

And why Hegerberg, Norway’s reigning Ballon d’Or winner, won’t be lining up against the Matildas in Sunday’s round of 16 game.

The 23-year-old star Lyon forward stood down from national duty two years ago as part of a stand against her federation for unequal treatment of men’s and women’s national teams.

Kerr said: “Yeah, I don’t really understand that situation, to be fair. We have the same agent though, so maybe after the World Cup I’ll get more details.”

Kerr has taken a stronger position on Women’s World Cup prize money. FIFA doubled the purse to $US30 million ($43.3m) for 2019 but an increase to the men’s prize means there is an even larger gender disparity, an issue on which the Australian players’ union is campaigning heavily.

“It just kind of made people shake their heads,” Kerr said.

“Maybe this World Cup will open people’s eyes to how much value there is in women’s football, and how much support and interest there is. It sucks and we’re going to keep fighting for better things for the women’s game.”