FIFA Criticizes Nigeria Coach Uche's Homophobic Comments

Nigeria is headed home after being eliminated in the group round of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, but not before FIFA had their say about Super Phobes (oops Super Falcons) head coach Eucharia Uche's problematic anti-gay statements.

After the June 26 post match press conference admission that she'd forced lesbians off the team and the New York Times interview done before the start of the tournament that quoted her as stating that homosexuality was 'dirty' and 'spiritually' and 'morally very wrong', FIFA's head of women's competitions Tatjana Haenni said to the German television channel ARD in an interview that, "FIFA is against all forms of discrimination."   

She also met with Uche on June 29 and reminded her of FIFA anti-discrimination policies. "We are here at a FIFA event and will point out that it would be best to express oneself neutrally," said Haenni.   

Neither Uche or the Nigerian Football Federation has commented on the Haenni meeting, but FIFA relased the following statement:.

FIFA would like to reiterate its position regarding any discriminating statements or action, and remind that FIFA, through its various committees, is actively committed to fighting against all kinds of discrimination within football and within society as a whole.

In addition to hosting events such as the FIFA Conference on Racism in Football and holding an Anti-Discrimination Day every year, FIFA has stressed on a number of occasions its commitment to fight any kind of discrimination in football.

In 2010, the FIFA Anti-Discrimination Day was held on 2 and 3 July, coinciding with the four 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter-final matches, so as to make a clear statement to the billions around the world about FIFA's united stand against racism and all forms of discrimination. For more information please click on the link to the right.

The FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Anti-Discrimination Day will take place on 13 July 2011, when the semi-final matches are played.

In the long term, FIFA will continue the fight against all forms of discrimination through every possible means at its disposal.

Let us not forget that a strong, active and vocal grassroots support of these principles is essential to this process and we need every fan of the beautiful game to do their part - and in this respect, the world's media plays a key role too.

Uche has been the Super Falcons head coach since 2009 and according to Barrister Chris Green, the chair of the Nigeria Football Federation, her job is safe for now despite the controversial exit from this year's tournament 

"We can't be talking of a new coach now when we still have a London 2012 Women Soccer qualifer against Equatorial Guinea ahead,'' Green revealed in a recent interview in Frankfurt.

''Rather, we expect the coach to improve on her experience here and make it reflect in her duties as she works with the team towards the London 2012 Olympics.'' 

Umm hmm.   Just wanted to point out to you Super Phobes supporters that two time FIFA world champion Germany has open bisexual and world class goalkeeper Nadine Angerer on their squad and a backup goalkeeper in Ursula Holl who is married to her partner.  

And oh yeah, didn't Germany and Nadine Angerer beat y'all 1-0 in group play?

This situation with Uche admitting that she forced lesbians off the squad cries out for sanctions, but the likelihood of that happening is about the same as a certain appletini chugging gay rights orgs in the States hiring a transperson to run it.  



FIFA's mission statement says it wants to use the sport in 'overcoming social and cultural obstacles for women with the ultimate aim of improving women's standing in society'.

Women in the context of this mission statement also includes lesbian, bi and transwomen as well, a point which FIFA needs to forcefully make clear to coach Uche, the Nigerian Football Federation and 'errbody ' else in the FIFA universe as well who may have a problem with that expansive definition of woman.