Singapore coach backs away from sexist spat
Reuters - Wednesday 23 February 2011, 02:43
SINGAPORE - The Singaporean football coach
at the centre of a sexism row says he is shocked at comments
attributed to him by local media and denies making sexist
remarks about a female assistant referee.
"I did not single her out. I don't want to be the next Andy
Gray," Woodlands Wellington coach R. Balasubramaniam said,
referring to the former Scotland striker sacked from his role as
pundit for Britain's Sky Sports last month after making sexist
remarks about a female match official.
"I was shocked when I read the quotes attributed to me in
the papers this morning because I thought she did a good job
throughout the match and had actually raised her flag for a foul
when Albirex scored," Balasubramaniam told Wednesday's Straits
Times newspaper.
The 37-year-old was reported as launching a tirade against
officials, including female assistant referee Rohaidah Nasir,
after his team lost to Albirex Niigata in the S-League on
Monday.
According to Singapore's The New Paper on Tuesday,
Balasubramaniam said: "Look at the standard of the linesman. You
put up your flag and then take it down. What is this? And the
refereeing panel had to put this lady on!"
Rohaidah is one of two FIFA-certified female officials in
Singapore and has been officiating in the S-League for two
years.
The Football Association of Singapore told the Straits Times
it had written to Balasubramaniam seeking clarification.