William and women's football

[Nono22972]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12413893/amp/Prince-William-not-attend-World-Cup-final-watch-Englands-Lionesses-face-against-Spain.html

One again, William's neglecting women's football. The Lionesses made history. It is the first time that the English team (male or female) reached the World Cup final since 1966. We all know that if the men had reached the final, he would've been there and probably would've brought George with him.

Queen Letizia and her daughter Sofia will be attending. What's William's excuse? You are président of the Football Association.

This is really disappointing but I'm not really surprised. The young generation of royals are such a joke compared to previous generations. Yes, the Queen’s children had their controversies but when it comes to royal work, they always got the job done.

Football is not the be all and end all.

So true. 12 medals (2 gold) at the World Aquatics championships a couple of weeks ago. I wonder how many posters here could name the British world champions?

The World Athletics championships are in a few days too.

Not a lot of people know this, but the last time England won a world cup, women had been banned from playing on Football Association grounds for over 40 years because the FA thought the sport was unsuitable for women. Before the ban, women’s football attracted crowds as large as 50,000 (the crowd on Wednesday was 75,000). The last time England qualified for a world cup final (1986) the women’s ban had only been lifted 16 years previously. The entire sport in England has been built from the ground up in 53 years. What an achievement 😊

This

@Serenster @PrincessTigger you're not really engaging in the spirit of the thread by posting facts and not putting the boot in William for no tangible reason at all.

sigh.
We're talking about football. The thread is about football. Wittering on about other sports is tedious. We know about other sports too. But this thread is about football.

I wonder what the carbon footprint would be of William flying commercial to Australia ( or with the Spanish RF on a private jet if that is how they are going) and his and the rest of the Royal Family's frequent private helicopter flights, or the Wales's fully staffed 3 homes? The Wales' are lazy and are on holiday. That is why he isn't there. He shouldn't even be Predident of the English FA, as Prince of Wales and future King of the UK.

According to the interview on the BBC 6pm news William told the team months ago that he wouldn’t be able to make the final if they got there. They were gushing in their appreciation of his constant support for them and didn’t seem the least bit bothered.

I also don’t understand why women’s football is singled out in this way, unlike men’s it is not mainstream in terms of participation or profile. Plenty of other female sports have far higher participation rates and get a fraction of the attention.

If you want my take on the crux of this issue - I really do not think the women's team gives a damn if William, or any of the other Royals / no longer Royals mentioned on this thread, are there or not. It will not even be a consideration for them in their preparation. Win or lose, they will likely be invited to meet with all the great and good once they are back home.

Oh, and on the point of women's football and recognising feats. The next time I hear someone talk about Liverpool / Man City being on to be the first team to win the quadruple - it's been done: Arsenal Women 2006-2007. They didn't get Royal support, hell they weren't even allowed to play their home leg of the European Cup on the men's pitch. They didn't care. This team won't either.

England have reached the World Cup final for the first time in over 50 years. As president of the FA he should be attending. There is no way he would miss it if it was the men’s team.

Princess Leonor has just begun her military service, so not available. I think the Prince or (preferably) the Princess of Wales should make the trip, to be available to present the trophy alongside Queen Letizia. It's gracious, and respectful, and keeps it female. So if the UK wins, Queen Letizia presents the trophy to the winning captain, or vice versa, and PoW does the honours for Spain.

And I exclude the QC Camilla on grounds of age. It's a brutal trip for an elderly person.

That's not how these things work.

You also have to bear in mind the current controversy surrounding the monarchy in Australia, and how awkward it might be for the possible future King or Queen of Australia to be handing out awards to an English team, perhaps standing alongside politicians campaigning for a republic.

As I said above, if you're a senior royal, a trip abroad is a bit more complex than finding a good hotel and flight deal on Expedia.

Are any of the Lionesses complaining about William "failing do his job"?

Or are you just getting outraged on their behalf because you don't like him?

I don't think the diplomatic offending Australia applies here. It's a knockout contest , and Australia were knocked out. The carbon footprint is one to be taken seriously. Fly commercial, even if first class?

The arguments against attending are fairly compelling other than the fact the Duke of Doolittle is on holiday yet again.

16th July (Wimbledon men's final must have been so exhausting to watch) and counting translates to weeks and weeks of lovely him-time.

He certainly doesn't appear interested in overturning the Workshy Willy moniker.

I forgot he worked by attending Wimbledon for one ay in July. No wonder he needs a holiday before his earthshot event in September

This, and many other posts on this thread are just thinly disguised spitefulness..

The quote didn't attach but it applies to quite a few posts so take your ;pick.

Very much so.

There is a lot of resentment, not even slightly veiled on this thread. Public opionion is going to split between visible support, and climate change. I think the royals should amend their plans a bit so the PoWales attends the final using commercial flights. I am sure the governor general can find a four engagement day near Sydney to spead the climate change burden.

He is the president of the FA - the dates of the World Cup have been known for some time and given the woman’s team won the euros, it should have been factored into his holiday plans he might need to work this week.

I hear you @LimeCheesecake , but I still think it should be a woman presenting the cup for a women's tournament, so the Princess of Wales is not a step down but a polite acknowledgement that this is an all female business. That women's sport should be respected and celebrated equally.

Constructive criticism is not being spiteful. There's a pattern with Kate and William.
They don't do much work, the numbers don't lie. People always make excuses for them: first it was "they need time" then they'll do more when they'll be 1st in line then it's the children. There's always an excuse for them. They take time off most of the year

I think it should be the Princess of Wales who goes to represent the UK on this occasion.

I bet she's already packing!