Cambridgeshire MP calls for more action to tackle discrimination in female football
A Bill is being debated in Parliament to try and resolve the problem
A Cambridgeshire MP has told Greatest Hits Radio what has to be done to tackle discrimination in women's and girls football in the county.
This season, the FA announced new measures including revamped sin bins, points deductions and a new code of conduct have been introduced to tackle what it calls "unacceptable behaviour in grassroots football".
It comes as the Cambridgeshire FA received one official case of discrimination against a female player in the last two years, but believe the issue is going underreported.
Ely and East Cambridgeshire's Liberal Democrat MP Charlotte Cane admitted that "unfortunately, I suspect discrimination is going underreported".
"I think it's up to the clubs and sports organisations to make sure that they're doing things to check that there isn't discrimination."
Helen Carder - a girls' coach at Cambourne Town FC - told us her chances to play football while growing up were restricted "purely because I was a girl".
She believes despite the growth of female football, the image of the sport - which she said has been "male dominated" - still needs to change.
"It's inclusivity that we need to encourage the boys to include the girls and we need male coaches to talk to their players about including the girls; it's all got to come from the adults."
Erin Burling - of Cambridge City Women - is one player who's seen the profile of women's football rise in recent years, particularly since the England Lionesses won the Women's Euros in 2022.
"I think there's got to be more female coaches in football to boost it because I feel women's football can sometimes take a backseat, but it's definitely getting there," she said.
Alysha Stojko-Down, alongside Cambridge United Women teammate Lauren Webb, is supporting the Her Game Too campaign to tackle sexism and misogyny within the female game.
She thinks education on the topic for girls is key.
"Actually telling them they're in the wrong is important because otherwise, you're going to let that behaviour engrain in those people, especially in a situation where it is younger kids and they have opportunity to learn, grow and be different in the future," Alysha said.
People must see 'bigger picture'
Parents of female footballers in Cambridgeshire have also had their say on the matter.
Clare Jenkins' daughter Mia was targeted by a coach while refereeing, and told us those involved in the game including parents must continue supporting footballers and see "the bigger picture".
Glenn Hacker's daughter - who's in the Cambridge City Girls setup - has played football since she was six-years-old and played for a boys' team up until last season.
He said education is crucial to tackling discrimination, but feels this "comes from the parents".
Proposed law put forward
A Football (Gender Inequality) Bill - put forward by Liberal Democrat MP James MacCleary - lays down measures to make women's football more balanced with the men's.
This includes the funding of women's and men's football, the training facilities available to clubs in England and the payment of female and male players.
Ms Cane believes the Bill - which is currently making its way through Parliament - is a positive first step towards a solution.
"It will start the discussion and encourage people to think of what the problems are and how they can be addressed, and make it very clear it's not a 'nice to have' (issue)," she said.
"We need to address the women currently and make sure they're getting proper equal opportunities with the men and this is feeding down into the amateur game."
Ms Cane is also calling for better resources, including playing facilities, "to give women and girls an absolutely fair chance" with the men's game.
No 'magic answer' to tackling discrimination
In the 2023-24 grassroots football season, the FA issued more than 2,500 charges across England for serious misconduct - which it said is a record number - as well as more than 1,300 hours of educational courses.
In its 'A Game Free From Discrimination' strategy for 2024-28, the FA says it aims to make it easier to report the issue and "reinforce the need for action when an individual sees, hears or senses a behaviour that is not right".
Jo Knox, chief executive at the Cambridgeshire FA, hopes a joint effort will help address the problem.
"I don't think there's a magic answer, but I think it's collective responsibility so everybody involved in the game needs to take responsibility to point it out, call it out, we need more people banging the drum to challenge it as it's not acceptable," she said.