by Sarina Wiegman has slammed the relationship between players and coach as “very inappropriate”, speaking out for the first time since the issue became widely known earlier this month.
Sports telegraph has learned of at least 36 cases of alleged player-coach relationships in the top six divisions of the English women’s pyramid, since the fallout from Jonathan Morgan’s sack at Sheffield United in February, after Morgan admitted that he had a relationship with a player when he was previously. Managing Leicester City.
In March, current manager Willie Kirk was suspended by Leicester for allegedly having an affair with a player. Kirk has not spoken about that allegation but has been contacted for a response. Since the news broke, managers across the Women’s Super League have been concerned about the potential power imbalance in player-coach romances.
Speaking at St George’s Park after naming her latest England squad for April’s Women’s Euro 2025 qualifiers against Sweden and the Republic of Ireland, Wiegman said: “I think the relationship between the players and the coaches of the -inappropriate, I think we shouldn’t accept that, that’s not healthy. .
“In our environment, it’s a professional environment, it’s all about performance and it should always be safe. Things can happen, but it’s inappropriate and we should all be aware of that.”
Wiegman did not personally call for an outright ban on relationships between players and coaches, when asked if she thought the Football Association should formally ban them, but said: “I think it’s common sense, yes It’s really inappropriate, and I think. if we all took our responsibility, things wouldn’t happen. But when it happens too often you need regulations. I will leave that [a blanket ban] up with others. We always talk about safe environments. This is one of the things that should be really safe. Everyone is really aware of the responsibility we have.”
Wiegman ‘surprised’ Arsenal’s trip to Melbourne
Other aspects of player welfare dominated the discussion on Tuesday, as Wiegman was also asked to respond to Arsenal’s decision to play an exhibition match in Melbourne on May 24, a week before England host France at St James’ Park. . Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall defended that game when speaking last Friday, and explained that many of his players could be left behind depending on player workloads and other factors.
“I was surprised by that trip,” Wiegman said. “For all the players, with a complicated calendar already, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world. But I would say that’s not just for the English players, that’s for all the European players in the qualifiers, that’s something that would be difficult for them to take and then perform at the highest level.
“We’ve already had talks with Arsenal in the summer, and those were very good talks, we’re on the same page. So of course I’m in touch with Jonas all the time. Jonas and I, we talk about players and also about the concerns. They haven’t announced yet who’s going and who’s not, I think in general, anyone who plays competitive games, whoever would go all the way to the other side of the world, I think it’s hard for players to accept in that period. , and then go into qualifiers.”
Wiegman has also been in talks with clubs about his planned training schedule for the summer, as all women’s national sides in Europe face the unusual situation of having European Championship qualifiers in mid-July, five weeks away after playing in early June, which hinders the players’ chances. for taking an off-season break.
‘The clubs are not angry with us – we are not angry with clubs’
Wiegman is planning a three-week training camp before those July games, to ensure her players are not at risk of injury when they meet Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in July. The clubs were reportedly “angry” about Wiegman’s proposed schedule, but in response, the Dutchwoman said: “I was surprised by that. They are not angry. In our conversations, there is no anger at all. They’re just really good conversations, so to be honest, I don’t know where that comes from. But the clubs are not angry with us and we are not angry with the clubs.
“It’s been five weeks [in between our matches this summer] and what we want to do is give some rest, and still be in touch with the clubs, so we are in the final stage [of talks] with the clubs, so I can’t say anything specific.”
The women’s international calendar this summer has been widely criticized, particularly in relation to the July window for competitive fixtures. In January, Arsenal and England centre-back Leah Williamson said the situation was “unsustainable” while raising serious concerns about the risk of injury to players.
Williamson is back in England’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers, which begin at Wembley on Friday week against Sweden. It is understood that around 50,000 tickets have been sold for that game since they went on sale last week.
Williamson was initially selected for the February friendlies against Austria and Italy but had to miss those matches due to injury. The only change to Wiegman’s original squad for February, compared to his April squad announced on Tuesday, is the replacement of fellow Manchester United midfielder Maya Le Tissier by Millie Turner. As expected, Chelsea centre-back Millie Bright remains sidelined with a knee problem.
England squad for Euro 2025 qualifiers
Goalkeeper: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea), Khiara Keating (Manchester City).
Defendants: Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Millie Turner (Manchester United), Leah Williamson (Arsenal), Lotte Wubben-Moy ( Arsenal).
Midfielders: Grace Clinton (Tottenham, on loan from Manchester United), Fran Kirby (Chelsea), Jess Park (Manchester City), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona).
Forward: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Lauren Hemp (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Beth Mead (Arsenal), Alessia Russo (Arsenal).
