A RISE in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in women’s soccer highlights “systemic gender inequality in sports,” a UK parliament report said recently. The Women and Equalities Committee said there was a “lack of understanding of the health and physiological needs of women and girls across sport.
GERMANY’S Marina Hegering reacts during her team’s Nations League semifinal match against France in Lyon last month.
In its report “Health barriers for girls and women in sport,” it cited a lack of footwear specifically designed for the needs of female soccer players as an area of concern and called on the government to assemble a task force to address the issue. “We have no doubt that a health issue of similar magnitude affecting elite male footballers would have received a faster, more thorough, and better coordinated response.”
The report by the Women and Equalities Committee has highlighted concerns around sportswear and wants brands to be involved in a task force to help improve the physiological health of players.