German Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb officiated matches in the men’s German Super League, while Frenchwoman Stephanie Frappart became the first woman to officiate a match in the men’s World Cup in 2022. Union Berlin also had a female assistant coach, Marie-Louise Etta, while Ingolstadt, which plays In the third division he has his coach.
Statistics show an increase in the number of female fans coming to stadiums, while women’s football itself has seen tremendous growth. Despite all this progress, sexism still exists in European football.
The controversy surrounding that kiss in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final caused an earthquake in Spanish football. As for Italy, it has fought a long battle against gender discrimination in football, including a scandal in 2018 in which fans of the men’s Lazio team tried to prevent women from sitting in the front rows of the stadium on the grounds that it was a place reserved for men. Manchester United has also been criticized for its handling of its women’s team, and at times, Germany has also faced difficulties in making women feel safe on stadiums. In September 2024, British anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out reported that more than half of 1,502 non-binary female and male fans participating in a survey had reported experiencing discriminatory sexual behavior or language during matches.
“Her Game Too” campaign
“Despite the great progress that has been made to protect women and girls in football, it is important that the game never stands still,” Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb, head of female referees at FIFA, told DW. “I have seen first-hand throughout my career as a policewoman and referee that violence and discrimination against Women are unfortunately still a problem, both in football and in society in general. For this reason, FIFA is working with organizations inside and outside of football to raise awareness of the dangers of this phenomenon on vulnerable groups and to call for an end to violence against women. Women and girls, we are passionate about this and will continue to support it.”
One movement seeking to combat sexism in football is the ‘Her Game Too’ campaign, which was launched in the UK in 2021 with the aim of tackling issues of sexism in the stands. The site’s home page has a button that allows fans to report incidents of bias or verbal abuse.
Lea Sadis, delegate of the Her Game Too campaign in France, told DW: “We call for strict penalties for discriminatory acts against women, just as is the case with racial discrimination or homophobia. Although mentalities are starting to change and many men are now standing up against such However, these attitudes appear in various forms, from comments about the legality of the presence of women in stadiums or oversimplification of matters to sexist or sexist comments. Clubs, in particular, play a central role in raising awareness among their fans and creating… A more inclusive environment in its stadiums.”
This month, German singer Mine reported being sexually harassed by Hertha Berlin fans on a train as they returned from a men’s second-tier match in Darmstadt.
Hertha club management reacted quickly, condemning the actions of their fans. The club confirmed that they already have “protection concepts directed at victims” to provide the necessary support. They also called on fans to take a firm stance in such cases to stop them immediately, and pledged to hold a dialogue with the fan base about the problem. However, the club did not respond to DW’s request for further clarification regarding this dialogue.
Sexual discrimination in the workplace
As for women who work in men’s football, a study conducted by the Women in Football group in June showed that 89% of women in this field have been exposed to discrimination while working. However, the study also showed a rise in optimism about achieving gender equality in the game.
Female referees such as Bibiana Steinhaus-Webb and English assistant Sian Massey-Ellis were sometimes subjected to sarcastic comments or boos from the stands, but the biggest problem was male fans wondering why women were referees in men’s football matches.
Sexism Goes Beyond the Terraces: The Sian Massey-Ellis Case
The problem in the case of Sian Massey-Ellis was not limited to fans. In 2011, while thinking the microphones were off, British Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys and former Scotland player Andy Gray mocked a female assistant referee, claiming she did not understand the offside law. This incident eventually led to the duo leaving the channel.
But in 2017, Richard Keyes was again accused of sexism, after he responded to an interview Massey-Ellis conducted with The Times of London on social media. He accused her of lying and threatened to publish a recording of their conversation. The interview with the newspaper included a quote in which she said: “Sometimes you have to be better than a man to be treated as good as a man.”
This sentiment is shared by many women working in men’s football, prompting regulatory bodies to strive to increase female representation. For example, in September the German Football Association organized a summit entitled “Women in Football” to support this cause.
Club Louis provides a role model
The issue is not limited to referees and coaches only. Eva Carneiro worked as a physiotherapist for Chelsea’s men’s team between 2001 and 2015, but was subjected to boos and taunts from the stands. She left the club after Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho criticized her for intervening to treat an injured player, which forced the team to temporarily play with ten players. Mourinho was accused of using discriminatory language against Carneiro, but was later acquitted. Carneiro sued Chelsea over unfair dismissal before reaching a private settlement.
Today, Carneiro is co-owner of FC Luís, a fan-owned semi-professional club with men’s and women’s teams in the lower divisions. In 2017, the club launched the EqualityFC campaign, becoming the first club in the world to give equal budgets to men’s and women’s teams. Carneiro became interested in the club after hearing about the CallHimOut campaign, which aims to combat sexism and misogyny in football and society. “The culture of the football environment at the top levels must change and become more welcoming,” Carneiro said in a club video. From language changes and scheduling of matches in larger stadiums to stronger responses from clubs and organisations, it is clear that more needs to be done.
Leah Sadis from the Her Game Too campaign adds: “We are moving towards greater inclusivity, but full respect will only be achieved if players, clubs, fans, media and regulators unite to eliminate sexism and value all who have a passion for this sport, no matter who they are.” .
Prepared by: Abbas Al-Khashali
