Matildas equally deserving of statue as previously immortalised men, says Football Australia | Matildas

Matildas

• Permanent recognition pledged after Matildas’ World Cup run
• Suggestions that fourth place does not warrant a statue

Tue 22 Aug 2023 07.15 BST

Murals, civic awards, statues – the accolades for the Matildas continue in the wake of their World Cup heroics with calls for even more recognition for the trailblazers of women’s football, despite questions being raised over how much celebration of their achievement was warranted.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the Matildas’ run was “remarkable” and rejected suggestions that fourth place at a World Cup was not deserving of the accolades. “It’s not the same as winning a local competition,” he said.

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Over the weekend, Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged to erect a statue outside Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane – the site of the epic 7-6 penalty shootout victory over France in the quarter-finals – in honour of the team’s achievements.

Palaszczuk said on Sunday the Matildas’ performance “set new benchmarks for sport, they have captured our hearts and inspired a nation”.

“They are role models who will inspire thousands of girls to pick up a football and play the game. It’s only fitting that we recognise all they have achieved with a permanent tribute.”

Other statues at Suncorp Stadium include rugby league’s Wally Lewis, Arthur Beetson, Darren Lockyer, Mal Meninga, and Allan Langer as well as John Eales from rugby union.

Johnson said the Matildas are equally deserving. “It’s more than just a fourth place finish,” he said. “There’s all the impacts the team has had off the pitch, particularly socially, which is which has changed sport forever.”

The New South Wales government has pledged to create a giant, permanent mural on Stadium Australia, visible upon entry from the train station. Another mural celebrating the team was unveiled on the Bondi Beach sea wall on Monday. And Newcastle has provided a key to the city to Matildas’ midfielder Emily van Egmond.

The accolades are in recognition of the team’s on- and off-field achievements, but some in sport have questioned whether a statue is going too far. Tennis player Nick Kyrgios and former basketballer Andrew Bogut both praised the Matildas’ performance, but questioned whether they had done enough to be immortalised in bronze.

Bogut said statues should be reserved only for winning. “A gold or first place is a statue and ‘over the top celebration’-worthy achievement,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Anything below is good, ‘have a celebration or two’, then move on.”

Kyrgios posted in reply that the Matildas’ performance was a “great effort,” but didn’t warrant such recognition. “Statue for fourth is nuts, but they had us all on the edge of our seats! Next time.”

Women Onside director and former Football Australia board member, Heather Reid, said the Matildas deserve every accolade. “They have shifted perceptions, and increased public awareness of women’s football,” she said. “We’ve moved from ambivalence to national adoration.”

Government, councils and stadiums have in recent years begun to come to terms with the huge gender bias of sporting statues towards men. Cricket Australia acknowledged the issue in 2021, at which point there were 73 known statues of male cricketers in Australia but none of women. A sculpture of Belinda Clark was finally unveiled at the SCG in January.

Reid said Matildas pioneers of the past also deserve to be recognised. “Previous generations that persisted in the face of chauvinism, sexism, massive homophobia,” she said. “This team has certainly driven social and cultural change beyond our expectations.”

She suggested a statue linking different generations of Matildas – for example first cap Julie Dolan, long-time captain Cheryl Salisbury and Sam Kerr – could be a fitting tribute.