The return from the Christmas holidays has not been placid for the WSL, the English women’s league. The year has started with several games suspended due to covid cases and with a scandal involving some players from Arsenal, Manchester City and United. A group of footballers from these teams traveled to Dubai during the holidays advising against the recommendations of the United Kingdom to avoid travel to stop the boom in cases in the country.
The disappointment of her teammates gave way to anger when it was learned that five of them tested positive on their return home. A controversy that has raised blisters among the soccer players and that has caused much criticism.
Katie McCabe during her trip to Dubai
The most ferocious, those of the captain of West Ham, Gilly Flaherty, who has seen his game against City this weekend have been suspended by the four positives of the citizen team. “As brilliant as the growth of professional women’s football is, I really don’t like the arrogance that money and salaries have brought in. Hopefully the girls involved do what is decent, come out and apologize, “he said.
Although not all the identities of the footballers who traveled to Dubai have been revealed, international Katie McCabe published several images of her on a beach on her social networks, despite having informed the club that the reason for her trip was to meeting with your agent, a scenario in which you are allowed to leave the UK.
In the case of Arsenal, it is known that three players made the same trip but, in this case, without informing their club. On their return, one of them tested positive, forcing a large part of their companions to isolate themselves.
Something that has forced the players to apologize to the team, which has had to suspend their match against Aston Villa this weekend. Anita Asante, player for the Birmingham team, has asked the English Federation to investigate this controversial trip and has demanded more responsibility from her teammates: “I think that being able to play football is a privilege when people cannot go to work or to school. school. Our duty is to adhere to the protocols to ensure that the competition can continue ”.
Despite the scandal, the FA (English Football Association) has decided not to intervene in this matter because the WSL does not have contractual rules prohibiting players from traveling abroad during the pandemic and that the league was on hiatus in the middle. seasonal. Thus, the control of the activities of their footballers remains in the hands of the clubs.
Most of the coaches involved have remained silent in this controversy, although the Manchester United coach in which the Catalan Ona Batlle plays has been raised, precisely the only team in which no positives have been registered.
Casey Stoney has confirmed that several players participated in that trip, although he has not revealed how many members of the team went to Dubai. The coach has apologized and assumed responsibility: “I gave my players permission to go see the family for Christmas or to go on a break. Everything we allowed them to do was within government guidelines, but it was a mistake on my part. I am deeply sorry. It was approved due to the player’s need for well-being, but it was a mistake and I take responsibility for it ”.
What we allowed them to do was within government guidelines, but it was a mistake
Stoney also acknowledged the discomfort that this trip has generated in the British: “I can fully understand why people who stay at home and cannot see the family feel frustrated when they see that the players go on vacation abroad. “.
A scandal that adds more difficulties to the management of the pandemic and that has faced the players of the English league, worried about the damage that this type of attitudes could do to the viability of the competition at a time of extreme difficulty such as that of now.
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