The latest news from women’s football in the UK and around the rest of the world over the last week.
Arsenal and Chelsea ensure all-London FA Cup final
Arsenal and Chelsea have both made it through to this year’s FA Cup final after securing victories over Everton and Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners have Louise Quinn to thank for their 2-1 victory against the Toffees, who scored an injury-time winner, in what was the first time the semi-finals of the competition have been broadcast live on the BBC. Elsewhere, two Fran Kirby goals inspired Chelsea’s 2-0 win over their WSL 1 title rivals Manchester City.
The final will be held at Wembley Stadium on May 5th.
Chelsea players dominate PFA Players’ Player of the Year shortlist
The WSL 1 leaders Chelsea have had five members of their squad named on the six-woman shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association Women’s Players’ Player of the Year.
On the list are the Blues’ England internationals Fran Kirby and Millie Bright, with their club-mates Ji So-yun, Maren Mjelde and Ramona Bachmann joining them as nominees. Alongside them, Manchester City and Lionesses midfielder Jill Scott completes the list as the only non-Chelsea representative.
As for the young player’s award, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Ellie Roebuck, Gabby George, Erin Cuthbert and Lauren Hemp, have all been nominated.
The winner of the awards will be voted on by PFA members and will be announced on 22 April.
United advertise for a manager for their new women’s team
Manchester United have publicly advertised a women’s managerial role, despite still waiting to hear whether the FA have accepted their application to join the FA Women’s Championship next season.
The Red Devils are currently the only Premier League team to not have a women’s team, but they are now trying to make big strides in this area of the sport and are now targeting a manager who can ‘build a successful, winning first team’.
Neville slams referee following Bosnia victory
England manager Phil Neville was left frustrated with the ‘really poor’ officiating his side had to endure over the international break.
Alex Greenwood was sent off in England’s 2-0 win against Bosnia on Tuesday after receiving a harsh second yellow card for what the referee deemed to be a dive.
After the game, Neville spoke about the referee’s performance:
“She sent one of my players off for a second bookable offence, which should have been a penalty. Her first booking was for taking a quick free-kick.
“I’ve been in to see the referee to try and get it rescinded, because she has waited so long for an opportunity and she was brilliant in the first half, but she’s got sent off and she’s got a one-match ban now.
“The referee ended up telling me I had to watch my own behaviour on the touchline rather than my players. I got out of the office pretty quickly.”
Little backs potential women’s GB football team at 2020 Olympics
Scotland international Kim Little has come out and backed the suggestion of a GB women’s team competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The support from the Arsenal midfielder comes after Baroness Sue Campbell, the head of women’s football at the FA, said that she was “confident” of a women’s football team taking the field at the Olympics.
Campbell said that the home nations had been supportive of the idea, but the BBC understands that the SFA would not want their players to take part.
However, despite that admission, Little, who was one of just two non-English players to compete at the London 2012 Olympics, has come out and said:
“I’ve always said from the 2012 Olympics and before that I would be very proud to compete for Great Britain. It was one of the best experiences of my life.”
Uganda make big steps to help women’s football grow
The Ugandan FA has announced a strategy to help the women’s side of the sport grow within the country, in the hope of providing a platform for girls and women all over the African country.
When speaking about the strategy, the FUFA President, Moses Magogo, said:
‘We have a strategy as far as women’s football is concerned. We have not only created the competitions, we have also allowed more women representation in football administration. If you were unaware before, we could have zero women in the General Assembly which is the Parliament of football in Uganda.
“Today we can have a minimum of four and as I speak now I think we have more than four. When it comes to the awards at the end of the year, the top female player just like the male player gets a car. All these are initiatives to ensure that women football in this country grows and gets better.
“You can only get better by working hard or even harder. Women’s football has taken off and now we have seen some of our own going to play professionally. We want to see our players earn money out of playing football and what FUFA has so far done is provide a platform to play”.
