Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@petenowakowski/Alamy
Topics: Australia, Football, A League, Womens Football
Max Sherry
Topics: Australia, Football, A League, Womens Football
Fans are claiming there is 'a lack of respect' for A-League Women's players after two teams were drenched by sprinklers just minutes after full-time.
Following Sydney FC's 4-0 victory over the Brisbane Roar on Saturday evening, both sets of players had to make a dash for cover when then the water sprinklers at Allianz Stadium suddenly turned on.
Pete Nowakowski posted a picture of the incident on social media where you can see the players trying to avoid getting sprayed.
But Nowakowski doesn't reckon this was just an innocent mistake from the groundskeeper, he actually believes this shows the lack of respect for the A-League's female stars.
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"Yet another example of the lack of respect the A-League Women's competition receives," Nowakowski said on Twitter.
"Not 45 seconds after full time and the sprinklers come on. Not like the players are still out there or anything."
Nowakowski's comments ignited a debate among fellow football fans with some agreeing with him while others pushed back.
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In response to the original tweet, one bloke replied: "What does the gender of the players on the field have to do with anything? Guarantee if Sydney under 21 boys finished a game with less than an hour till another game, sprinklers would come on."
But Nowakowski hit back.
"I get the lack of time between games being an issue, but to turn sprinklers (on) directly after full time without warning players, not cool. Players deserve more than that," he responded.
Meanwhile, another person commented: "I’m sure the only person offended by this is you."
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To which Nowakowski replied: "Maybe I am. And if that's the case, no worries. If I'm not the only one concerned, then I'm okay with starting the conversation about it."
Today, it was announced that Sydney would host the A-League Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals for the next three years, beginning in 2023.
The deal with the New South Wales government sparked an angry reaction from football fans online – particularly from those outside of the state.
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One person replied: "Way to annoy absolutely everyone. 17 year member, tempted to walk away completely now"
While another added: "What a terrible, terrible decision. Are you trying to bring this competition to its knees? To alienate its most passionate fan base?"
As a third weighed in, saying: "Please reconsider. This is without doubt the worst decision you have made. At a time when the league should be building momentum off the back of a great World Cup campaign you have simply ruined it by making a greedy decision! So disappointing!"