Emma Hayes slates ‘ridiculous’ criticism of Barbra Banda after gender row over BBC award

Emma Hayes has hit out at the “ridiculous” criticism aimed at Barbra Banda after the Zambia footballer was crowned BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Banda, who scored a hat-trick at the Paris Olympics, won the accolade earlier this week despite having to withdraw from a major tournament two years ago on gender eligibility grounds.

The Orlando Pride forward has received a barrage of abuse since being named as the recipient of the award last Tuesday, while JK Rowling said the decision amounted to “spitting in women’s faces”.

Banda was withdrawn from Zambia’s squad from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations amid concerns she would fail a gender verification test. At the time, Zambian officials feared her testosterone levels would exceed those permitted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), but she has continued to excel on the highest stage since.

While she is the latest woman athlete to face questions over her gender, numerous figures from the women’s football world – including the former US captain Megan Rapinoe – have spoken out in support of the striker after she was shortlisted by a panel of experts including coaches, players, administrators and journalists, but then voted the winner by the public.

Ahead of her US side taking on England at Wembley on Saturday, Hayes used her pre-match press conference to staunchly defend Banda.

“Barbra Banda is an amazing football player,” said the former Chelsea manager. “It’s ridiculous that she has to endure questions like this to be quite honest with you. She has our support.

“She’s someone who’s done a tremendous amount, not just for her club, but for her country and what a brilliant season she’s had. We should be talking about that, the impact she’s had on the NWSL [National Women’s Soccer League]. We saw it firsthand in the Olympics – the way she stretches the line, her ability.

“I speak so highly of her because in the women’s game we talk about all top players that come from more traditional nations. I think it’s great that we see such quality coming out of Africa and for her to make the impact that she has.

“My assistant coach [Lisa Cole] coached her at Zambia and talked about what an amazing person she is, so she has our full support and, quite frankly, I’m disappointed when I hear a lot of these things being said.”

England face the US, the Olympic champions, at Wembley, which should provide a good litmus test ahead of the defence of their European title in Switzerland next summer.

The meeting also pits Sarina Wiegman against Hayes, widely regarded as two of the best managers in the women’s game.

Wiegman, the England manager, and Hayes worked together in a collaborative capacity when the latter was in charge of Chelsea and the mutual respect between both managers has dominated the pre-match build up. “I think with friends, you really want to beat your friends, even more maybe than if it’s not your friends,” said Wiegman.

The Lionesses face a tough test against Hayes’ outfit and,with more than 83,000 tickets sold for the occasion, Lindsey Horan, the US captain, hailed the opportunity as a “chance of a lifetime”.

“Obviously in women’s women’s football we’re getting more and more of these opportunities, but if you’re going to play at Wembley against England, you shouldn’t have to get yourself motivated for that,” she added.

The home of English football has been a happy hunting ground for Hayes, who has a 7-1 win-loss ratio during her time in charge of Chelsea, and has made no secret of her long-term goal: to win the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

“Coaching this team in every game is a chance of a lifetime for me,” said Hayes, who has pledged to “hum along” to both the English and US anthems before the game.

“It just happens to be at Wembley and probably get a few more of my family there that wouldn’t ordinarily get [to go]. I just love watching the players. That for me is always my motivation, watching them, watch how they develop, watch how they handle all of the moments that come with the game.”

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