Like anyone else waking up after being cryogenically frozen since the 19th century, I reflexively believe all the things Fifa says about itself. Nowhere is world football’s governing body more convincing than in its stated desire to grow the women’s game in the buildup to next year’s Women’s World Cup in France.
Back in the summer, 19-year-old Venezuelan international Deyna Castellanos was permitted to interview Gianni Infantino, with the result posted on the Women’s World Cup social media channels. “Next year in France, we will see the greatest, greatest, greatest Women’s World Cup ever,” promised the Fifa president. “We will have a country that celebrates women’s football – and this virus of women’s football will spread from France, over the whole world.”
Oh. Well, put like that, perhaps it is understandable that Fifa should be doing everything in its power to contain the outbreak of the virus. What else can explain the decision to schedule the Women’s World Cup final on the same day as not just the final of the Copa América, held in Brazil, but also the Concacaf Gold Cup, hosted in the United States?
In fact, were the message not sufficiently rammed home by that timetabling, it has emerged that the Women’s World Cup final will be a morning game in the US, and an afternoon game in Europe. The later and evening games will go to the two men’s regional cup finals.
Because really, nothing says “we are fully committed to growing the women’s game” like making the biggest match in its four-year cycle the undercard to some other stuff. When your scheduling suggests the Women’s World Cup final is not even the first or second most important match of the day, it is perhaps inevitable that people will draw conclusions about the level of your stated commitment
For more read the full of article at The Guardian
