October 4 – An English Premier League club has been accused of gender discrimination – by the chairman of its own ladies’ team. Stephen Hunt has launched a scathing attack on West Ham United and has lodged a formal complaint with the Football Association following a prolonged row over funding and facilities.
“West Ham need to be fined until they start to act like a 21st century club,” Hunt told the BBC.
He claims they have stopped his ladies team from finding their own sponsors and that they have to train by the side of a road since they are not allowed to use the gym.
Hunt also alleges his team, who play in the FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division, the third tier of women’s football in England, cannot afford a team bus to take them to matches and are playing in last season’s home kit, with the names of last season’s players crossed out on the back.
“I think West Ham have breached the underlying objectives of the FA to promote equality and grassroots football at all levels,” he charged. “Initially, what I thought was a lack of interest I now understand is a positive intent by senior people at West Ham to block the growth of West Ham Ladies. It’s beyond negligence, it is trying to starve us of any sort of funding.”
West Ham issued a counter statement insisting that “supporting, nurturing and facilitating the women’s game is very important” and claim they are “a club with strong community principles and a dedication to equality in sport”.
The statement also questioned Hunt’s version of events.
“The day-to-day management of West Ham United Ladies FC was transferred to a third party some time ago and unfortunately it is an arrangement that has simply not worked,” it read. “Mr Hunt has refused to align with West Ham’s principles throughout his tenure as chairman and has, on a number of occasions, threatened the club.
“The club have been working for some time on plans to take West Ham United Ladies FC ‘in house’ and, in light of Mr Hunt’s most recent deeply concerning comments, we will now be seeking to do so at the earliest opportunity. We will, of course, seek to maintain the current West Ham United Ladies FC squad personnel where possible, and provide them with the best possible support and management moving forward. As a result of this, women’s football at West Ham United will become bigger, better and stronger, as we continue our commitment to the growth and development of the women’s game, both on and off the pitch.”
Hunt denies he has threatened the club and says he would be happy to hand the women’s team over to the club if he received guarantees and assurances that his players are protected.
The row only adds to West Ham’s troubles on and off the pitch following a poor start to the season by its men’s team and persistent instances of crowd trouble since their move to the London 2012 Olympic stadium, renamed the London Stadium.
Three people were arrested after rival fans clashed outside the ground following Saturday’s 1-1 with Middlesbrough on Saturday afternoon but even at the very first Premier League match at the venue fighting broke out between rival supporters outside the stadium while 10 fans were ejected from inside the ground during a recent 4-2 defeat by Watford.
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