I have to wonder if US soccer player Megan Rapinoe's anger regarding the nomination of 18 year-old Venezuelan Deyna Castellanos as one of the three finalists as Women's Player of the Year isn't misguided. After all, the initial list of ten nominees (which obviously included Castellanos) was decided upon by six all-time great female players (including perhaps the greatest US women's player, Mia Hamm). Therefore, shouldn't distaste for Castellanos inclusion have been voiced when the list of ten was announced?
And if not at that time, then is it really that unreasonable to imagine--given FIFA's process for deciding the final three is through open voting by national team coaches, national team captains, journalists and fans--the voting might result in an unlikely candidate like Castellanos, particularly when Venezuelan fans could have chosen her in far greater numbers than other candidates' fans, just as South American coaches, captains and journalists might have voted overwhelmingly for the single South American player among the ten nominees?
Finally, Rapinoe's suggestion that FIFA -- "Old, male, and stale" -- should have stepped in to take away Castellanos' nomination is ridiculous and would have been grossly unfair. Imagine the criticism the organization would have, rightly, come under if the "old, stale males" at FIFA had decided they knew better than coaches, captains, journalists and fans who should, and shouldn't, make it as a Women's Player of the Year finalist.
#meganrapinoe #deynacastellanos #fifa #womensplayeroftheyear
And if not at that time, then is it really that unreasonable to imagine--given FIFA's process for deciding the final three is through open voting by national team coaches, national team captains, journalists and fans--the voting might result in an unlikely candidate like Castellanos, particularly when Venezuelan fans could have chosen her in far greater numbers than other candidates' fans, just as South American coaches, captains and journalists might have voted overwhelmingly for the single South American player among the ten nominees?
Finally, Rapinoe's suggestion that FIFA -- "Old, male, and stale" -- should have stepped in to take away Castellanos' nomination is ridiculous and would have been grossly unfair. Imagine the criticism the organization would have, rightly, come under if the "old, stale males" at FIFA had decided they knew better than coaches, captains, journalists and fans who should, and shouldn't, make it as a Women's Player of the Year finalist.
#meganrapinoe #deynacastellanos #fifa #womensplayeroftheyear
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