Up next
Who is Frank James?
Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels controversially claimed women’s football teams concede more goals in quick succession because they are more ‘emotional’ than men.
Shiels’ team were beaten 5-0 by England in their 2023 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, with four of the goals coming in the second half.
The Lionesses scored their second in the 52nd minute before further goals in the 60th, 70th and 79th minute.
Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels made a controversial comment after his side’s 5-0 loss to England in their World Cup qualifier on Tuesday evening
Shiels said women concede more goals in quick succession as they are more ‘emotional’ than men
The result came after Northern Ireland’s 3-1 defeat by Austria on Friday, where the three goals came within the space of nine minutes.
And Shiels put the quick succession of goals in both defeats down to women being ‘more emotional’.
‘In the women’s game, I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you’re aware, if you go through the patterns,’ Shields said.
The Lionesses scored their first goal in the 52nd minute of the game that took place in Belfast
England added to their goal tally in the 60th, 70th and 79th minute of the game on Tuesday
‘When a team concedes a goal they concede a second one in a very very short period of time, 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.
‘When we went 1-0 down we tried to slow it down to give them time to get that emotional imbalance out of their heads. That’s an issue we have. Not just in Northern Ireland but all of the countries in the world.’ Shiels then remarked: ‘I shouldn’t have told you that.’
Shiels has been manager of Northern Ireland since 2019, leading the country to qualification for this summer’s Euros – their first major tournament.
The comments came on what had been a memorable night for the country, with a record crowd of 15,348 watching on at Windsor Park.
Shiels has also said before the game that Northern Ireland’s chances of progressing through to the competition was ‘very slim’
But it was England who were victorious on the pitch, with a brace from Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway and a goal from Ella Toone making it a comfortable.
Hemp opened the scoring in the 25th minute as she met Toone’s cross to send a looping shot over Jackie Burns. Toone made it 2-0 at the start of the second half before Hemp showed her class to score a third, rounding Burns to finish into an empty net.
Toone then teed up Georgia Stanway, who rifled in for England’s fourth before scoring her second in a similar fashion 10 minutes later. The Lionesses have now all-but secured their place at the World Cup next year, with just one point needed from their final two fixtures.
The Northern Irish Football Association have been approached for comment.
