“Watching lesbians play football”
Politicians cause excitement before the European Women’s Football Championship
01/10/2025 – 06:37 amReading time: 2 min.
Seven months before the European Women’s Football Championship, statements from female politicians are causing a stir in Switzerland. These were already many weeks ago.
A good six months before the start of the European Women’s Football Championship, there is an alleged controversy surrounding the tournament in Switzerland. The reason is statements by two prominent politicians that are said to have “caused discontent among many female footballers”. At least that’s what the Swiss newspaper “Blick” writes.
In October, politician Anna Rosenwasser said: “I love talking about the European Championships. Because then everyone thinks I’m interested in football. I’m particularly interested in lesbians who play sports.” Rosenwasser is in the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland and is an expert on LGBTQ issues.
Her party colleague Tamara Funiciello is also in focus. She explained at the time: “All I do for a month is watch lesbians play football.” Funiciello is a lesbian herself.
“Blick” now took up the statements and researched them. The supposed result: In “footballer circles [sic]”These would be discussed controversially. Because the two national councilors end up with prejudices: Anyone who plays football as a woman must be a lesbian. And anyone who watches them does so only because of their appearance.”
However, it is at least doubtful whether the discussions are really that “controversial”. When asked by the newspaper, the Swiss Football Association (SFV) said: “Tolerance is one of the non-negotiable basic values of the SFV. Accordingly, this is not an issue for us at all. We respect every player and treat them regardless of their sexual, political or religious background Alignment.”
Funiciello herself made it clear to “Blick” that she did not mean to imply with her statement that all female soccer players are homosexual, and emphasized: “It annoys her that lesbian is perceived as a insult: ‘As if our sexuality were an insult’.”
The European Championship will be played between July 2nd and 27th in Switzerland. The games will take place in eight different stadiums. Germany plays in Group C with Poland, Denmark and Sweden.