Women’s football cannot be judged on one wild game

ETEMADONLINE| Some of the behaviour we saw from Cameroon's players and their coach in their game against England was shocking, but it is important to make it clear that it was not an indictment of the women's game.

It is an indictment of Cameroon specifically, and it was a game I can only hope their players watch, cringe, are honest about and learn from in the future, to understand the weight of responsibility that comes from representing your nation with pride and professionalism.

We see some despicable behaviour in men's football - diving, horrible fouls, racistabuse, players arguing with opponents, with the referee and sometimes with their own manager - but somehow on those occasions we are able to restrict our judgment to the individuals involved, rather than the entire sport.

Yet some people who saw this game, one wild match in a tournament that has given us moments of greatness and also of disappointment, have announced that it proves women's football cannot be taken seriously. I think they are watching it the wrong way. It is as if people are not just watching women's football and enjoying it, they are sitting in judgment. If every time you turn on the TV you need to be persuaded that the women's game is good enough, it's probably not for you.

Behavior indictment cringe racistabuse persuaded