July 11, (THEWILL) – England’s Euro 2022-winning defender, Demi Stokes, has revealed her respect for players from France, Spain and Nigeria, who have taken a stand on the conditions in women’s football, ahead of the World Cup.
The preparations of several teams participating in the upcoming tournament in Australia and New Zealand have been affected by disputes between players and coaches or Federations. Stokes believes that these players are acting in their teams’ best interests and advocating for necessary changes in response to the challenges they face. “When players take a stance, I think it just shows the characters that they are”, she said.
As THEWILL reported, the France women’s national team witnessed the dismissal of head coach, Corinne Diacre, earlier this year, following a refusal by a group of players including captain, Wendie Renard, to represent the team under her leadership. Meanwhile, 15 players from the Spanish team communicated their decision to no longer play under coach Jorge Vilda, due to the impact on their emotional state.
Stokes acknowledged the significance of players like Renard and those from the Spanish team taking a stance, as it demonstrates their character and commitment to effecting change. She stressed the importance of resolving these issues, implementing practical solutions, and supporting and protecting the players involved.
Nigeria’s World Cup preparations have also been marred by internal conflicts, with players threatening to boycott games unless the Nigerian Football Federation honours an agreement to share revenue from the tournament. While Stokes is unsure if the Nigerian squad will follow through with the boycott, she hopes that the issues can be resolved.
She acknowledged that boycotting is never pleasant but recognised that it is for a valid reason and a larger cause if the players take such a stance.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
