FIFA is the sporting world’s favorite piñata at the moment. Naturally, when football’s governing body does something even a little screwy, folks are waiting like sharks with blood in the water. So when a FIFA article praising Alex Morgan’s looks — in the opening paragraph, no less — appeared ahead of the United States’ World Cup semifinal against Germany, many took notice.
Here’s the offending line from FIFA’s website:
Alex Morgan is one of the most popular players in USA women’s football. A talented goalscorer with a style that is very easy on the eye and good looks to match, she is nothing short of a media phenomenon.
And here are some of the reactions:
FIFA site lead story, lead graph on Alex Morgan: "with a style that is very easy on the eye and good looks to match" https://t.co/Qm91cZUQlV
— Subscribe to GrantWahl.com (@GrantWahl) June 30, 2015
Every time I think FIFA has hit bottom when it comes to attitude toward women, I am sadly corrected. http://t.co/xmjyHLXCfm
— Nancy Armour (@nrarmour) June 30, 2015
Lead graph of lead story on http://t.co/MGUlO9PL0z notes @alexmorgan13's looks. Because of course it does. pic.twitter.com/Jb1px96naD
— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) June 30, 2015
Granted, Morgan is good-looking. No one would probably dispute this, but we also live in an era when female athletes are subject to sweeping generalizations and traditional viewpoints. As such, it’s fair to ask why her looks are even worth mentioning.
(via FIFA.com)
