It wouldn’t be a FIFA event without controversy. The World Cup draw happened earlier this month, as representatives from each nation flew to Bahia to discover who they would be playing in 6 months time. After England’s tough draw, FA chairman Greg Dyke was in the press for the wrong reasons after being caught on camera making a throat cutting gesture. But that wasn’t the biggest controversy from the draw, oh no.
36-year-old actress and model Fernanda Lima was chosen to co-host the draw with FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke, which led to thousands of viewers taking to Twitter to share their comments on the model. It wasn’t long until Fernanda Lima was trending, with the Mirror claiming 10 people posted an update about her every second.
Whilst many of them would be men, possibly commenting on her gorgeous looks and pretty revealing dress, many females watching on weren’t just going to keep their opinions to themselves. The decision to make Lima the co-host has led to allegations of FIFA being sexist, employing a beautiful model with no relevance to sport to stand next to executives.
One of football’s toughest female executives, Karen Brady, was unimpressed with Miss Lima’s appointment: “Football is not only a game for everyone but incredibly influential. So for FIFA to put at centre stage a woman only there to be gawped at sends out a terrible message. I have had a number of young women contact me to complain about this. FIFA don’t seem to be able to get anything right at the moment.”
England Women’s football captain Casey Stoner also shared her disappointment at the choice of co-host, telling the Telegraph: “Giving the job to a model has sent out completely the wrong message. Unfortunately I wasn’t surprised. They could have had a woman high up in the game or else a player with proper international standing. This should have been about football.”
And it seems Stoner isn’t the only person to believe that a female player should have been on the stage. BBC broadcaster Jacqui Oatley shared a similar view to the England captain: “What a missed opportunity. Brazil have arguably the most talented female footballer in the world, the great Marta, five-time FIFA World Player of the Year. Why not use her to showcase the best of Brazil and show some of her spectacular goals?”
Is there any argument against this? Surely the draw for the biggest football tournament in the world should have football relevance? It’s not the first time that Sepp Blatter has been involved in allegations of racism. As well as describing one of the executive committee candidates as “good, and good-looking”, he upset many female audience members at the FIFA congress in May by saying: “Any ladies in this room? Say something ladies! You are always speaking at home. Now you can speak here.”
Back in 2004, Blatter suggested female footballers should have different rules on kits, in order to portray their beauty: “They could, for example, have tighter shorts,” Blatter remarked at the time. “Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men – such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion? Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball.”
It’s not surprising that a dinosaur like Blatter can be involved in another sexism row, but it is surprising that he can be so blatant about it. Are FIFA only focused on impressing their male viewers, and forget that football is a sport for both genders? The appointment of Fernanda Lima was clearly for the large male viewing numbers, to give them someone to look at and enjoy, instead of listening to Blatter or Valcke ramble on about the confusing draw. Surely this cannot be acceptable in this day and age?
Is there any excuse or argument for Fernanda Lima’s involvement? Let’s not ask Blatter, and here one of his representatives defend him. What do you think? Share your views below!
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