"Football" a game of togetherness and inclusivity. A game made for camaraderie and friendship. A game that truly serves the purpose of "for the people, by the people and of the people." And When a game like this faces the allegations or becomes a platform of something absolutely opposite of its spirit, the audience are forced to ask themselves "is the game really progressive?" Or "does the game truly believes in brotherhood?".
These situations get worse when they happen in that part of sport which still building it's place in the spectrum. The biggest example if this is Women's Football. The part of the game which is already grafting to make it's place in a predominantly Male sport, cases that happens against players like Man City superstar Bunny Shaw or cases that are done by players like Barcelona Femení's Mapi Leon makes that process a 100 times worse.
Even the statement of Sapphire McIntosh specifying how she felt more included and more welcome in the French team rather than in the English team even after playing since a long time, the mere news of a team involved in a pity and sully act it really tarnishes the image of the sport and leaves a bad taste among the audience. It pushes audience to be more anti of the game. So instead of allowing these moments to hinder the growth of the game, they should serve as a wake-up call for stronger support systems, better governance, and a more inclusive culture. Football’s true strength lies in its resilience, and by addressing these challenges head on, we can ensure that the game continues to evolve into the inclusive and progressive sport it aspires to be.
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