Football critics take note, potent women are their own best cheerleaders - Sydney Morning Herald

July 08, 2019 at 04:27PM

For fans of spectacular women's sport, scratch that, fans of spectacular sport, the only downside in the festival of athleticism on show at the FIFA Women's World Cup was the double standard that emerged about what a winner should look like.

Football history shows what a male winner may look like, and be celebrated for, includes a player who scores then gets down on all fours pretending to dog-pee on a corner flag.

Or, a player who scores then imitates snorting a line of cocaine, or pulls down their shorts, does a fascist salute or "fires a gun".

Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates after scoring the US' first goal against France in the World Cup quarter finals.Credit:AP

For some, what a female winner should look like is still apparently a courtesy.  Anything more flamboyant, such as running to the edge and standing with your arms outstretched and your forehead tilted triumphantly to the heavens, or jumping into the arms of a teammate, or pretending to sip a cup of tea, from a woman, is pure "arrogance".

For fans of spectacular women's sport, scratch that, fans of spectacular sport, the only downside in the festival of athleticism on show at the FIFA Women's World Cup was the double standard that emerged about what a winner should look like.

Football history shows what a male winner may look like, and be celebrated for, includes a player who scores then gets down on all fours pretending to dog-pee on a corner flag.

Or, a player who scores then imitates snorting a line of cocaine, or pulls down their shorts, does a fascist salute or "fires a gun".

Megan Rapinoe, right, celebrates after scoring the US' first goal against France in the World Cup quarter finals.Credit:AP

For some, what a female winner should look like is still apparently a courtesy.  Anything more flamboyant, such as running to the edge and standing with your arms outstretched and your forehead tilted triumphantly to the heavens, or jumping into the arms of a teammate, or pretending to sip a cup of tea, from a woman, is pure "arrogance".

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