Popular TV and radio presenter Laura Woods has brutally slammed Northern Ireland Women’s manager Kenny Shiels after controversially claiming that “women are more emotional than men.”
Shiels’ women suffered a crushing 5-0 defeat to England Women on Tuesday in their World Cup qualifying match at Windsor Park.
And the result means that Northern Ireland Women will be unable to secure a place for the 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand.
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Shiels made his bold remarks about women being more emotional than men after Northern Ireland Women’s defeat, which has since been met with fierce backlash.
“I felt [England] were struggling a wee bit at times to open us up until the psychology of going 2-0 up in the women’s game,” he said.
“I’m sure you will have noticed if you go through the patterns -- when a team concedes a goal, they concede a second one in a very, very short space of time.
“[It happens] right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men. So, they take a goal going in not very well.”
Speaking on talkSPORT, Woods came down on Shiels like a ton of bricks after the Northern Ireland Women’s manager realised the error of his words.
“I’m hoping not to react in too much of an emotional way for Kenny to digest this one,” she said.
“I think I’ve seen more teams capitulate across a broad spectrum of games in men’s and women’s football -- I don’t think it’s got anything to do with emotion, necessarily.
“What I do think it might have something to do with, is that England are ranked eighth in the world and Northern Ireland are 46th, so I’m just going to say that’s got something to do with your team getting pumped by the Lionesses, perhaps?
“I think that’s a really silly observation to make and it’s not going to go down well.”
Woods added: “And I tell you who won’t appreciate it – his players. Maybe it’s got more to do with the way you’re managing your team, Kenny!
“I choose to laugh at it, really, because it’s just so ridiculous.
“It’s definitely got more to do with the way your team is set up, and the fact the women’s game in England is leaps and bounds ahead of the game in many other countries. You just have to look at these World Cup qualifying games as proof of that.”
Shiels on Wednesday apologised for his remarks and insisted that he was “sorry for the offence that they have caused.”
He added: “Last night was a special occasion for the women's game in Northern Ireland and I am proud to manage a group of players who are role models for so many girls, and boys, across the country.
“I am an advocate for the women’s game and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to flourish.”
Topics: Northern Ireland, England, Football
Adnan Riaz