South Africa’s national women’s soccer team have objected to Equatorial Guinea ”bending it like Beckham” by allegedly fielding two male players against them.
Banyana Banyana team manager Fran Hilton-Smith said on Tuesday a complaint had been laid with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
”These two are extremely physical, extremely strong and tall. They strike you. It’s very clear they are not girls. The crowd was going off their heads [in protest],” she said.
Despite this alleged disadvantage, Banyana Banyana beat Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in Pretoria on Sunday. This secured them a place in the next round of qualifying for the Beijing Olympics in 2008. Beating them in the face of these claimed odds had been a ”motivating factor for my players”, she said.
One of the allegedly male players was in a striking position, the other a central defender.
Hilton-Smith was, however, not optimistic that CAF would do much about the matter. She had approached Fifa, who had asked for photographs and video footage and would conduct saliva tests.
She said Fifa did not permit players to be inspected in the changing rooms as it considered this gender discrimination.
Hilton-Smith said she suspected that one of the alleged Equatorial Guinea ‘men’ had played for Cameroon against Banyana Banyana in 1998 and had since changed his name.
”In 1995 Nigeria came and played here [South Africa] and we suspected that two of them were boys. It was our first foray into international football and because we were the new kids on the block we didn’t do anything,” she added.
It was possible that either of the players were hermaphrodites, she said.
”I would have objections playing against hermaphrodites, especially if the player has more male characteristics. It gives them an unfair advantage.”
She was also critical of the standard of refereeing at Sunday’s match. One of the assistant referees allegedly celebrated when Equatorial Guinea scored.
”It’s atrocious refereeing. I was glad when that we had this in our home country, so that people can see what’s going on.
”It’s a common problem when you get referees from the north [of Africa] in matches against South Africa.
”Fifa should consider sending an expert out here to come and do testing and courses.” — Sapa