Barney Ronay's article, impressed by the radio rant by “Dave from Egham” about being unable to face ladies's voices speaking about soccer and having ladies's soccer “thrown down our throats” throughout Euro 2025, was refreshing and entertaining (The soundtrack of the ladies's Euros was happiness … and a few males can't cope, 2 August).
At a current household gathering, a number of the males began speaking about the identical factor – how there have been so many ladies presenters and commentators speaking about soccer and never simply ladies's soccer, no, however, God forbid, males's soccer, and truly sport on the whole! What's the world coming to? How dare these ladies communicate knowledgably in articulate sentences and joyful tones? And like “Mrs Dave”, my sister joined in and supported the patriarchal level!
The dialog continued alongside this vein for a while, ultimately arriving on the well-worn waffle about “ladies can't play soccer in addition to males and shouldn't be paid the identical, blah blah blah…”
Helen Johnson
Nottingham
I ask myself why some males are so antagonistic to ladies's soccer, why they really feel it's being “thrown down our throats”, and why they will turn out to be so wound up by ladies's voices and usually be so misogynistic and so open about their toxic beliefs. My guess could be that they really feel jealous and below menace.
Not for the reason that heady days of ladies's soccer attracting massive crowds (like Dick, Kerr Women, who drew a crowd of 53,000 at Goodison Park on Boxing Day 1920) has ladies's soccer been so common. However the males have been again from conflict, and it was time for them to have their sport again. So, obligingly, the FA disallowed ladies from enjoying on affiliated pitches for half a century.
In males's soccer, England has led the way in which with the formation of the Premier League, attracting gamers and followers from all over the world – even when, internationally, we at all times fall on the final hurdle, or earlier than. Then alongside got here the ladies's troops, gaining consideration after a lot ridicule and enjoying good soccer – and never rolling round on the ground and berating the referee. There are many sports activities on TV, to observe or not. The “Dave from Egham” varieties ought to get on with their very own lives and cease being such haters – it's dangerous for his or her well being.
Laura Farningham
Vejer de La Frontera, Spain
What Barney Ronay describes because the happiness of the Euros is, to my thoughts, simply what sport needs to be. The game was aggressive, thrilling and skilful, however there was nonetheless a way of proportion. It was sport, not life, and the individuals enjoying it went again to properties that have been one thing like these of their followers. Sport is a sport, chaps. You'll be able to nonetheless have a good time endeavour and talent, however simply cease taking all of it so significantly. The Lionesses confirmed us, once more, that sport may be pure pleasure.
Kathryn Streatfield
Richmond, North Yorkshire
I arrived within the British Isles in 1968 and was utterly mystified by the warfare between soccer followers. I'd assist no matter staff appealed on the time and will by no means drum up any hatred for the opposite aspect. I hadn't realised that I used to be watching, and having fun with, the ladies's soccer as a result of that anger and menace of violence was lacking. I want to thank Barney Ronay for the reason.
Beth Bolton
Southam, Warwickshire
