Belfast, April 14 (UNA): Northern Ireland women’s national team coach Kenny Shils has apologized after he drew heavy criticism for suggesting that women are “more emotional” than men, leaving them more likely to concede two goals in quick succession.
The comments came after England’s Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway scored two goals each while Ella Tone also scored in Northern Ireland’s 5-0 defeat in the Women’s World Cup 2023 qualifier on Tuesday, Reuters reported.
“I would like to apologize for my comments made in the post-match press conference last night. I am sorry for the offense they caused,” Shiels said in a statement.
“I am a feminist and passionate about developing opportunities for women and girls to thrive.”
There were eight minutes between the second and third goals and nine minutes between the last two goals.
After the defeat, Shiels told reporters: “In the women’s game, you’ll notice that if you go through patterns, when one team receives a goal another one receives within a very short period of time.
“Throughout the whole spectrum of the ladies’ game, because girls and women are more emotional than guys, so they take aim that’s not good.”
Shils, 65, was criticized by former England goalkeeper Siobhan Chamberlain, as well as Arsenal star Ian Wright, who responded by posting a picture of himself crying while playing for the Premier League team.
“Kenny Shells is talking crap,” Wright wrote on Twitter. “Speak of the emotional woman! Didn’t that guy see how many times I cried on the field!”
Chamberlain, who has played 50 games for England, told the BBC: “I think we all know that the five minutes after you net a goal – not just in women’s football, (also) in men’s football – is more likely to concede a goal.
“Just generalizing that to women is a bit of a strange comment.”