Rangers hit out at ‘homophobic’ and ‘misogynistic’ comments on Tuesday night that have been made about women’s football in the wake of last Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup final at Tynecastle.
Scotland international and Rangers captain Nicola Docherty was among those who took issue with former Ibrox player Joey Barton for his scathing criticism of Partick Thistle goalkeeper Ava Easdon.
After the 17-year-old, currently on loan from Glasgow City, was at fault for Rangers’ first goal in their 4-1 win, Barton told his followers on X: ‘I mean let’s just talk about the goalie! How is this nonsense on the box?’
Doubling down on his comments after his post was condemned by Docherty and Easdon’s father among others, Barton wrote: ‘Come on, Nicola. One tweet about a clip. She’s had more publicity about this than she or her dad deserves based on their actual ability.
‘It shouldn’t be on a paid subscription channel because it’s sub-standard quality to most football.’
Joey Barton was scathing with his criticism of the Sky Sports Cup final on Sunday
He mocked Partick Thistle’s 17-year-old goalkeeper Ava Easdon (pictured) and claimed the game shouldn’t have been on TV
Rangers captain Nicola Docherty (pictured) has taken issue with Barton’s remarks
Her club, who beat Partick Thistle in the final, have now condemned the ‘homophobic’ and ‘misogynistic’ comments made by Barton
The ex-England international added: ‘Will youse all behave and put those victim, girl power cards away. They don’t work on people with a brain.
‘Lesbo-Ball will never be as big as Men’s football, no matter how much you virtue signal. Ya too slow and ya not going to change that. It’s called biological evolution.’
The Ibrox club were critical of what they described as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘extremely outdated and foul views of women’s football’.
A club statement read: ‘Rangers FC has been made aware of discriminatory and misogynistic comments regarding the women’s game following Sunday’s Sky Sports Cup Final.
‘As a club, we stand together against these homophobic and disgraceful slurs in the strongest possible terms.
‘We are unwavering in our desire to further the women’s game across the country which goes from strength to strength, and will support all players in challenging those who hold extremely outdated and foul views of women’s football.’
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie described online criticism of Easdon as ‘horrible’ and ‘bullying’.
Scotland captain Rachel Corsie (pictured) said social media criticism on Easdon was ‘horrible’ and amounted to ‘bullying’
She told the BBC’s Behind The Goals podcast: ‘We see that a lot now. It’s even more worrying that people feel it’s okay to do it towards younger players.
‘It’s not welcome in sport. To bully and target people is not acceptable. It’s horrible and it’s not warranted.’
Meanwhile, Scotland manager Pedro Martinez Losa believes the game should create a support network that helps players cope with criticism.
The Spaniard gave his backing to Scotland youth international Easdon, who combines school studies with part-time football.
‘The problem we have now is we (are) accelerating the progress and the evolution (of women’s football) so there are other people involved, and we can’t control that,’ he said.
‘I just want to show my support, as head coach of the national team, to a player who is playing exceptionally. She has been put in that position, she is dreaming of being a football player, as are many girls. And, by the way, she is playing very well.’
Scotland boss Pedro Martinez Losa (pictured) wants a support network set up to help players deal with online criticism
Martinez Losa maintained that, with more focus on the women’s game, club and coaches must prepare players to cope with criticism.
‘For me, it is part of the progress of the visibility of the game. I have seen this kind of scenario before. What we have to do is concentrate on supporting the player.
‘She is doing everything she can, she is a talented player who is playing for the youth national teams and is doing well for Partick Thistle.
‘In my first year at Rayo Vallecano we were a part-time team but we won La Liga and, after that, there was a switch in expectation. We had a player who was studying to be a doctor. From 6am until 4pm she was at the hospital. Then she would train until 7pm, go home, study, not get into bed until around 2am and do it all again. But, when we went to play Champions League, she was heavily criticised. We need mechanisms to protect players.
‘I don’t think it should happen. But the next level will bring all of us to more exposure, more criticism, more opinions. We have to support her and get her to stay focused. We have to work with young players especially to make sure we can protect them. When you play in a final you will be subject to criticism and opinions, but when you are talking about Under-18 players there are lines that should not be crossed.’
