Sara Bjork is the captain of Iceland women’s national football team and plays for the Italian club Juventus
Judy Murray has expressed her disgust after reports revealed how an Icelandic footballer was treated when she was pregnant. The footballer in question is none other than the captain of the Iceland women’s national team, Sara Bjork. Bjork opened up about her shocking experiences in a column on The Players’ Tribune titled “What happened when I got pregnant”.
Bjork was treated very poorly at one of the leading football clubs in Europe, Olympique Lyon. Her wages were unpaid, she wasn’t provided with any support during her pregnancy and while on maternity leave and moreover, she was told that she had ‘no future’ at the club. Bjork has carefully mentioned each detail in her column and it has absolutely stunned the sporting fraternity. Women rights activist and professional tennis coach, Judy Murray took to Twitter to express her feelings about the incident. “Shocking. Still such a long way to go to creating equality of opportunity for women in sport”, she wrote.
Let us take a look at some of the reactions from fans on Twitter.
“Well done Sara for being bold & standing up for yourself whilst holding your club to account! You have not only highlighted a significant problem in football but hopefully, have contributed to making the path easier for the next professional player who decides to start a family”, wrote Anita Asante, the coach of Bristol City women’s football team.
“Thanks for sharing so eloquently. Yet another example of male “leadership” posing as champions of women and women’s sports and then failing to live up to their public relations boasting. Shame on Lyon and French league”, tweeted another fan.
“Congrats for speaking out on this incredibly important topic. As a Lyon fan I feel deeply ashamed – I am glad things worked out and you’re in a place where you are valued as a player and as a mom”, read a tweet.
“I’m so sorry that Olympique Lyonnais failed you, what happened is a shame. Thank you for your testimony which will help, I hope, to make sure it’ll never happen again”, tweeted another fan.
Another fan wrote: “Thank you for speaking out and fighting for your rights and for the rights of all the women that will come after you!”
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