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Loes Geurts Retires: Family, Gender Equality, and FIFA Hypocrisy
Loes Geurts, a Dutch goalkeeper, announces her retirement from professional football, citing challenges balancing family life and career, along with broader issues of gender equality in the sport.
Dutch
Netherlands
Human Rights ViolationsClimate ChangeSportsControversyFootballFamilyRetirementEquality
Bk HäckenParis Saint-GermainFifaKnvbFifpro
Loes GeurtsSari Van VeenendaalVera PauwArjan Van Der LaanSarina Wiegman
- Have you received many reactions to your announcement?
- She received more positive reactions than expected, contrary to her belief that her time away from the national team diminished her fanbase.
- How was it to play for the last time in front of the home crowd?
- It was emotional, a standing ovation after a long time starting. Her friend and daughter were there, making it especially meaningful.
- Research by the players' union Fifpro shows that not all clubs are flexible towards pregnant or recently delivered players. Is that also your experience?
- She lacked financial support during and after pregnancy, a common issue for female footballers. Although Sweden has good parental leave policies for office jobs, no such schemes were available for her.
- 'I still enjoy playing football, but everything around the pitch is becoming increasingly difficult,' you said on the club's website. What did you mean by that?
- It was primarily the difficulty of balancing her career and family life, with a pilot husband and travel demands, that made it challenging.
- You recently voiced your opinion, along with your colleagues, about the sponsorship deal between FIFA and the Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco. Is it hypocritical that problems close to home, such as continued payment during pregnancy, remain unaddressed?
- She feels the FIFA's sponsorship deal with Aramco is hypocritical, considering their claims of climate neutrality and inclusivity while supporting a country with poor human rights records. While improvements have been made, much more is still needed in the women's football world.