Anger at Downing Street over Lioness snub grows: Former FA head calls lack of No 10 reception ‘disappointing’ as Boris Johnson goes on holiday after Lionesses were denied bus parade and are given just 20-minute BBC slot for Trafalgar Square celebrations
- Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, Tory MP for Chatham and Aylesford, has called on Tory leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak , to ‘pledge to recognise the Lionesses at their earliest opportunity’
- Lionesses were denied victory bus parade through London Monday – despite male teams getting the honour
- Downing Street hasn’t organised a reception with Boris Johnson in Northern Ireland for David Trimble funeral
- Up to 7,000 supporters were able to celebrate after England beat Germany 2-1 in Euro 2022 final yesterday
The former head of the FA has called the lack of reception hosted at Downing Street ‘disappointing’ as Boris Johnson prepares to go on holiday from Wednesday until Sunday.
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, Tory MP for Chatham and Aylesford, has called on the two Tory leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, to ‘pledge to recognise the Lionesses at their earliest opportunity’ following the start of the PM’s break tomorrow.
Around 7,000 supporters celebrated the win with the England team in Trafalgar Square on Monday after the team beat Germany 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday – the country’s first major title since 1966.
But there is growing anger that there was no traditional bus parade – an honour bestowed on the England men’s team despite not winning a title since 1966 – with critics pointing the finger at London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the FA in a decision branded ‘disgusting’.
There were also major bus parades through London both in 2003 after England won the Rugby World Cup, and in 2005 when England’s cricketers won The Ashes.
BBC One coverage of the Trafalgar Square event on Monday was limited to a 20-minute slot, causing more anger. There was also no Downing Street reception because Boris Johnson was at David Trimble’s funeral. The PM was not at Wembley due to a Cotswolds party to celebrate his marriage to Carrie Johnson last year.
Ms Crouch said she would be ‘horrified’ if there was ‘nothing’ from No 10 after the England women’s football team were not given a victory bus parade through London after winning Euro 2022.
The former head of the FA has called the lack of reception hosted at Downing Street ‘disappointing’ as Boris Johnson (pictured) prepares to go on holiday from Wednesday until Sunday
Around 7,000 supporters celebrated the win with the England team in Trafalgar Square Monday after the team beat Germany 2-1 in extra-time at Wembley Stadium on Sunday – the country’s first major title since 1966
Former sports minister Tracey Crouch, Tory MP for Chatham and Aylesford, has called on the two Tory leadership candidates, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak , to ‘pledge to recognise the Lionesses at their earliest opportunity’
Greg Dyke, former head of the Football Association, told The Times: ‘I think it’s disappointing for the players. What they have achieved is incredible.’
A Downing Street source also told the newspaper that discussions were continuing about trying to find a time to host the Lionesses.
Ms Crouch told MailOnline on Monday: ‘If we are going to grasp the opportunity on equality, we really must do better.
‘There may be a good reason for it, but I do not know why there was no parade for the Lionesses. There will have been plans in place for the men in the event they had won the euros last year’.
She added that the chance to hold one after the Trafalgar Square party may have passed, because the Lionesses will likely go on holiday – with the Women’s Premier League pre-season set to begin in the next three to four weeks.
Supporters condemned the decision not to hold a parade, saying on social media that it was a ‘real shame’ and it would be the ‘least that England deserve’. Others labelled it ‘shocking’ and ‘absolutely disgusting from @MayorofLondon and others in a position to affect this’, with one adding: ‘Someone have a word.’
Safety reasons have been cited for the decision not to hold an open-top bus parade, by sources close to the celebration event.
The England team and staff pose for a photo during the celebration at Trafalgar Square in London yesterday afternoon
England fans gathered at Trafalgar Square in London on Monday for the Euro 2022 victory party – but there was great anger at the lack of a parade
England’s Lionesses go wild with their staff as they celebrated the country’s first major title since 1966
The Football Association confirmed on Monday ‘there would not be a bus parade before or after’ the party
2003 – England’s victorious Rugby World Cup team on a parade in London in December 2003
2005 – England’s cricket team on a bus in London in September 2005 after winning The Ashes
In 2021, the England men’s team weren’t celebrated with a bus parade following their defeat to Italy 2-1, although this was said to be due to coronavirus.
In 2012, Olympians and Paralympians were given a No10 Downing Street reception, as well as an event at Buckingham Palace.
There was also a special open-top bus victory parade in the capital.
There were major bus parades through London both in 2003 after England won the Rugby World Cup, and in 2005 when England’s cricketers won The Ashes.
Bus parades have also been organised for footballers in the Premier League and FA cup.
They were also invited to No 10 for a reception following their successes.
The Lionesses have not been given a bus parade following their win yesterday.
Critics have pointed the finger at London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the FA in a decision branded ‘disgusting’.
The Prime Minister did not meet the team following their win, as he is at David Trimble’s funeral.
He watched yesterday’s match from Chequers.
Downing Street has insisted Boris Johnson is supportive of women’s football amid questions over his absence from Wembley and the lack of a No 10 reception for the victorious Lionesses.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman was quizzed on why Mr Johnson watched England’s historic Euros triumph from his country residence, given he attended the men’s final in their equivalent contest last year.
The Prime Minister attended the funeral of Northern Ireland peace process architect Lord Trimble on Monday, and is then taking leave from Wednesday to Sunday.
The England men’s cricket team were invited to Downing Street following their win in the Ashes in 2005, as were the men’s Rugby World Cup victors in 2003.
The women’s national rugby and cricket teams have also previously been honoured with receptions at No 10.
The Prime Minister attended the men’s Euro 2020 final at Wembley last year, where England lost to Italy.
But he chose to tune into the Lionesses’ crunch tie with Germany from Chequers – with the match culminating in a 2-1 triumph for England after extra time, securing the first major tournament title for the country since 1966.
Mr Johnson’s German counterpart Olaf Scholz was at Wembley on Sunday, while No 10 said the Foreign Secretary and the Culture Secretary represented the UK Government at the final.
Mr Scholz also visited the German team in their dressing room after the game.
Over the weekend, Mr Johnson was celebrating his wedding to wife Carrie at the grand Cotswolds estate of a major Tory donor.
The pair hosted family and friends at 18th-century Daylesford House to celebrate their nuptials in a wider circle, after the pandemic forced them to scale back festivities last year.
Asked whether the Prime Minister’s absence from Wembley reflected badly on his attitude to the women’s game, his spokesman said: ‘I think the public will judge the Government on the support it has given to women’s football.
‘This is a Government that has stood steadfastly in terms of supporting the women’s game and investing in it.
‘The Prime Minister has been supporting the team throughout and was watching the game with his family at home.’
Meanwhile, No 10 said there are ‘no plans’ to add a new bank holiday to mark the Lionesses’ victory.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: ‘Obviously we all want to celebrate the Lionesses’ win, but there are no plans to change the current pattern of public bank holidays.’
But he said Mr Johnson will ‘definitely’ want the Lionesses to receive ‘the recognition they rightly deserve’ after England’s triumph.
Asked if the Prime Minister would back damehoods for the Lionesses following their win, the spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister would definitely want to see the team receive the recognition they rightly deserve for their historic victory.
‘On honours specifically, there is obviously a process that is a matter for the independent honours committee, but clearly the public want to see (the) Lionesses receive recognition.’
Lionesses set to be given honours by Boris Johnson, No 10 confirms – but there will be no new bank holiday after win
Boris Johnson will ‘definitely’ want the Lionesses to receive ‘the recognition they right deserve’ after England’s historic Euros triumph, No 10 has said.
Asked if the Prime Minister will back damehoods for the team following their win, his official spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister would definitely want to see the team receive the recognition they rightly deserve for their historic victory.
‘On honours specifically, there is obviously a process that is a matter for the independent honours committee, but clearly the public want to see (the) Lionesses receive recognition.
‘I’m not aware of any further plans with regards to this week but we’ll continue to look to other ways to celebrate the success of the Lionesses.’
Asked why Boris Johnson did not watch the Lionesses’ match at Wembley, Downing Street said he was following the game from home. His official spokesman said: ‘The Prime Minister did watch the game at home along with, I think, 17.4 million other (people).’
There are ‘no plans’ to add a new bank holiday following the Lionesses’ victory, No 10 said. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘Obviously we all want to celebrate the Lionesses’ win, but there are no plans to change the current pattern of public bank holidays.’
A source with knowledge of the plans said Trafalgar Square had already been used as an official fan zone for England’s semi-finals and final, so it was therefore a secure area that was ready to host an event like yesterday’s celebration at short notice.
The capacity of the gathering was set at 7,000 based both on predicted numbers of attendees and also while considering safety. Organisers told MailOnline they were satisfied with the capacity that was set, because of the number of fans who actually attended on Monday.
The celebration was organised jointly by FA, the Greater London Authority (GLA), the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Westminster Council.
A spokesman for Mr Khan said: ‘The Mayor has worked closely with the FA, Westminster City Council, Government and key partners to support today’s amazing celebration event at Trafalgar Square which provided a fitting way to celebrate a truly historic moment.’
Westminster Council directed press queries to the GLA, while sources at the DCMS said it was the FA’s decision not to hold the parade. Sources close to the Mayor’s Office also said it was the FA’s decision.
England’s players and their manager, Sarina Wiegman, took part in a Q&A session before lifting the trophy on Monday.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham said it was ‘only right’ that fans can celebrate the ‘historic victory’ together with the players at Trafalgar Square.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan added: ‘They’ve broken records, and now they’ve made history.’
And Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: ‘I’m delighted that we have worked quickly with the FA to put on a victory celebration in Trafalgar Square.’
The Lionesses beat Germany 2-1 in front of 87,000 supporters at Wembley Stadium yesterday, securing the first major tournament title for the country since 1966.
England’s victorious Lionesses have partied with thousands of fans to celebrate their historic Euro 2022 win over Germany – the nation’s first major football trophy for 56 years – with the hungover players belting out Sweet Caroline and admitting they have ‘partied more than we’ve played football in the last 24 hours’.
Around 7,000 supporters went wild at the event hosted by Alex Scott in Trafalgar Square, where fans were dancing in the fountains last night after Chloe Kelly’s extra time goal.
Many of the players were wearing dark sunglasses after MailOnline revealed that they were dancing and singing in their hotel until 4am – but roared on by the crowd they proved they were ready to celebrate again yesterday afternoon.
Addressing the huge crowd in central London on Monday, captain Leah Williamson raised the trophy and said: ‘We’ve partied more than we’ve played football in the last 24 hours’.
She added: ‘What we’ve done for women and young girls that can look up and inspire to be us. I think England have hosted an incredible tournament and we’ve changed the game in this country and hopefully across Europe and across the world. But we said we wanted to make our legacy about winning and that’s what we did’.
England’s matchwinner Miss Kelly, who serenaded the crowd with a rendition of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline before dancing wildly on stage, said: ‘I ain’t stopped dancing, my feet just keep going. Everyone’s absolutely buzzing. We had a good night last night but some of us were a bit worse for wear this morning’. Rachel Daly then took the mic and began belting out Tina Turner classic River Deep Mountain High as her teammates danced around her.
While scorer of the first goal, Ella Toone, was asked about the congratulations from Harry Kane for her top corner finish, and joked: ‘Yeah, I taught him that’.
While looking forward to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next year, Lioness Lucy Bronze said: ‘There’s still one more we can get our hands on next year’.
Supporters were given free entry on a first-come first-served basis from 11am on Monday, and enjoyed live music from DJ Monki while watching tournament highlights on big screens.
The victorious players and their manager, Sarina Wiegman, were then greeted as heroes and took part in a Q&A session before lifting the trophy.
The Trafalgar Square Lionesses event was organised by the Greater London Authority, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Westminster Council, and broadcast live on BBC One. The event was full at midday, with the Metropolitan Police forced to urge supporters to stay away and watch it at home due to the huge numbers who turned out to cheer the Lionesses.
Chloe Kelly’s parents spoke of their pride in their daughter and admitted she was now a ‘superstar’ after her extra time goal clinched the title. Her father Noel told MailOnline: ‘It’s just been unbelievable to see. I didn’t play much with her when she was younger, but my boys kicked about with her. She’s absolutely brilliant’.
Her mother Jane added: ‘Oh my god, it is incredible. She’s kicked a ball since she could walk and it’s just continued since then, getting bigger and bigger. This is one of the proudest moments of my life. She’s an absolute superstar.’
Chloe’s parents had travelled to the rapturous reception for the players at Trafalgar Square in London.
Ticker tape exploded as Leah Williamson raises the trophy aloft at the Euro 2022 victory party in Trafalgar Square
England’s Lionesses went wild with their staff as they celebrated the country’s first major title since 1966
England players including match winner Chloe Kelly sing Sweet Caroline on stage during a fan celebration to commemorate the historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph
The fans were jumping and singing – and the players responded with similar excitement after their historic win
England’s players sing and celebrated during a victory party in Trafalgar Square yesterday
Rachel Daly took centre stage to sing to the 7,000 supporters there to celebrate their Euro 2022 victory
Leah Williamson of England and Alex Scott, presenter smiled and laughed during the England Women’s Team Celebration
Goalscorers Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone. Chloe told the crowd: ‘I ain’t stopped dancing, my feet just keep going’
The Lionesses let their hair down – after a fair bit of drinking and not much sleep as they deservedly celebrated their victory over Germany
The much-loved England bucket hats worn by players and fans were placed on the Euro 2022 trophy
Captain Leah Williamson head coach Sarina Wiegman and says that she hopes they have inspired a new generation of girls
The victorious England team are cheered by supporters at the Trafalgar Square Euro 2022 victory party, where they sang and danced to Sweet Caroline
England’s winning manager Sarina Wiegman lifts the European Championships trophy
Many of the England players were in sunglasses having partied until 4am at the team’s hotel
England fans going wild during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph in Trafalgar Square
Crowds wait for the victorious team in the shadow of Nelson’s Column yesterday afternoon
The huge crowds in Trafalgar Square yesterday afternoon ahead of the victory party
A young England fan draped in a St George cross flag is all smiles in central London on Monday
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan addresses the crowd – but some have blamed him for the lack of a bus parade
Crowds during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph
An England fan gets an England flag painted on her face ahead of the victory party
England fans prepare to welcome the Lionesses after their historic win
The Euro 2022 win will inspire millions of girls to take part in football, experts predict
An England fan during a fan celebration to commemorate England’s historic UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 triumph
The Lionesses leave their hotel for the victory party in Trafalgar Square
England’s Leah Williamson with the UEFA Euro 2020 trophy at The Lensbury, Teddington, where she admitted to ‘feeling a bit rough’
Leah Williamson and Millie Bright of England lift the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy after their sides victory during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final
In an image that will live long in the memory, Chloe Kelly swings her shirt over her head after scoring the winning goal and securing the title
Dancing next to their bus, the Lionesses return to their hotel having been celebrating their win against Germany
The team make their way into the hotel, having spent the evening celebrating their historic win
Supporters were draped in free flags which simply read: ‘Home.’
How England’s Euros win was the most-watched women’s game in Britain of all time
England’s Euro 2022 final with Germany was watched by a peak audience of 23.3million across BBC One and streaming services – which made it the biggest ever TV audience for a women’s game in Britain.
The peak on BBC One was 17.4million, in addition to 5.9million streams across the iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
There was a peak audience TV share of 77.3 per cent, while the average share was 65.9 per cent – and the average audience was 11million, according to the ratings service Overnights.TV.
The figures do not include viewers in public spaces such as fan parks. The peak came in the closing minutes of the Lionesses’ 2-1 victory.
The previous highest peak came during England’s 2019 World Cup semi-final defeat by the United States, which saw a peak audience of nearly 12million.
Bu the average audience is slightly behind the 11.2million average overnight ratings for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee concert, which was broadcast by BBC One in early June, and which remains the biggest TV audience of the year so far.
The average TV audience for the match itself, from kick-off to final whistle and excluding the surrounding coverage, was 13.6 million, according to the BBC.
BBC Director-General Tim Davie said: ‘This was the most-watched women’s football game on UK television of all time and deservedly so.’
Separate figures from the BBC show that coverage of the game was streamed 5.9million times across the iPlayer and BBC Sport website.
However the match got nowhere near the audience of England’s men’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy last July, which was one of the most-watched moments in UK television history.
That game had a combined peak audience of 31million viewers – including 25million on the BBC and six million on ITV.
The BBC also said it had 6.9million streams on iPlayer, while ITV Hub received 4.2million requests for that match.
The 1966 World Cup final – the country’s last win at a major tournament – was watched by an estimated 32.3million people.
Yvonne Morrison, 61, took her grandson Ronnie, nine, to catch a glimpse of the Lionesses at Trafalgar Square. Ms Morrison, from Wiltshire, said: ‘They’ve raised the profile of women’s football, it’s long overdue. Hopefully it will raise their salaries, and status. It’s about time they were on an equal par.’
She added that ‘what’s really nice for us is that Ronnie’s obviously male, and he’s very interested in female football as well’. Nine-year-old football fan Ronnie said it was ‘amazing’ to celebrate the win with his grandma.
England’s pride of heroic – and hungover – Lionesses partied until 4am ahead of the Trafalgar Square victory party after a record 23.3million watched them win the Euro 2022 final.
The team were congratulated by the Queen and then celebrated the win late into the night – including wild dancing at Wembley, on the team coach and even in the car park outside their hotel – after making history and beating Germany 2-1.
The 87,192-strong attendance in the stadium smashed the record for either a men’s or women’s Euros final and saw the team end more than 50 years of hurt. In extra time super substitute Miss Kelly fired them into the history books after beating Germany in a tight final that captivated millions and tens of thousands watching in pubs and fan parks across the country.
And MailOnline can reveal the victorious team partied until 4am at the Lensbury Resort – and many emerged bleary-eyed and wearing sunglasses five hours later after as little as two hours sleep.
Many in the country might feel the same with 17.4million watching the match on BBC1 – 5.7million more than the previous record for a women’s match – plus a further 5.9million who watched on BBC iPlayer or via the BBC website yesterday. The match is also the most watched TV show of 2022.
Speaking about the party this morning manager Sarina Wiegman said it was ‘crazy’, adding: ‘There was lots of music. Lots of dancing. And English people can really drink. There was a little bit too much alcohol. But that’s ok. We enjoyed it. When you have these accomplishments it’s really good to party’.
Her captain Leah Williamson received a huge cheers from dozens of fans as she emerged from the team hotel holding the Euro trophy. Wearing a red bucket hat, Leah struggled to lift the silver trophy above her head. She then told the BBC: ‘I’m feeling a bit rough this morning’.
Matchwinner Chloe Kelly was one of the first players to leave the hotel accompanied by her boyfriend Scott Moore. He wore an England shirt with his girlfriend’s name emblazoned on the back. The couple loaded up their car before returning to the hotel in Teddington, south west London.
Thousands of supporters, many draped in England flags and wearing replica shirts, queued outside the fanzone at Trafalgar Square in central London ahead of the Euro 2022 victory celebrations.
Among them was Chris North, 52, who said it was ‘amazing’ to be able to celebrate the victory with his two children.
‘My wife’s an ex-women’s rugby player so we always had women’s sport in our family, but they were so inspiring last night,’ he said. ‘The game was so exciting to watch. It’s definitely a new dawn, which is fantastic.’
He said his six-year-old daughter is excited to see her ‘new role models’.
Mr North said it’s ‘about time’ that women’s football received the ‘level up’ it deserved.
‘There are still massive discrepancies between the two, and this is only going to help, because it’s just not fair – not in today’s society,’ he added.
Lindsay Parslow, 32, said the Lionesses’ win on Sunday was a ‘big thing for women’s football.’
‘It’s more out there, more noticed – because it wasn’t before. And let’s be honest, they beat the men!’
Ms Parslow, from Rochester, Kent, was in Trafalgar Square for the celebrations alongside her partner and sons, aged 10 and 12.
She said she thinks her sons, who are ‘big football fans’, will now start taking more notice of women’s football.
BBC in Euro 2022 sexism storm after Gary Lineker deletes his tweet joking about Chloe Kelly’s bra and all-male Kasabian play out broadcast of the Lionesses’ epic victory over Germany
By BROOKE DAVIES FOR MAILONLINE
The BBC and Gary Lineker have received an online backlash after the presenter made a ‘sexist’ bra joke and an all-male band were chosen to play over the Lionesses’ end montage.
The £1.36million-a-year Match of the Day presenter said in a now deleted tweet that ‘the Lionesses have only gone and done it, and Kelly is England’s heroine, bra none’, beneath an image of match-winner Chloe Kelly.
One Twitter user said: ‘You’ve reduced a truly game changing moment for women and girls into a puerile sexist joke. Do you comment when male players take their shirts off? Is it any wonder people don’t take the women’s game seriously.’
Gary Lineker made a joke about Chloe Kelly’s bra which has since been deleted on Twitter and edited on Instagram
Twitter users were angered over Gary Lineker’s bra joke, which has been described as misogynistic
Instagram users were shocked Lineker commented on Lioness Chloe Kelly’s sports bra
Another described the former England footballer as ’embarrassing’ and told him ‘women did what you couldn’t and you reduce their victory to a bra joke’.
On Instagram, Lineker has amended the caption to be ’22 women chase a ball for 90 minutes and, at the end, England actually win. Congratulation Lionesses’ – but angry comments remain underneath.
One Instagram user said: ‘Not sure why her underwear is relevant though? #everdaysexism.’
Lineker also retweeted a post that someone had shared with him about Walkers crisps
Another said: ‘Look forward to you celebrating a male win by commenting on their jock straps. Outrageous.’
Lineker also retweeted a post yesterday that a fan had shared with him from Wembley about Walkers crisps, a brand for which he is a well-known ambassador.
Meanwhile the BBC has also received online criticism over their choice of all-male band Kasabian to play out the broadcast of the Lionesses’ win.
Twitter users described the BBC’s choice as ‘really weird’ and ‘an own goal’.
Twitter users criticised the BBC for failing to find an all-female band to play during the end montage which showed some of the Lionesses’ greatest moments during the tournament
One user said: ‘Were there no female artists available to play the tournament out, BBC?’
Others described it as a ‘slow boring song’ and the BBC needed to ‘amplify awesome women musicians’.
Former front-man of the band, Tom Meighan, was found guilty of domestic abuse in 2020, when he hit his partner over the head and dragged her across the room.
Gary Lineker’s history of deleted tweets
Gary Lineker has been hauled over the coals a number of times for his tweets. The presenter deleted a post last year about his BBC pay cut after volunteering to have it slashed by £400,000. He wrote: ‘Another one? Christ, nobody told me.’ He later deleted it.
Lineker also deleted a post in 2019 after taking a swipe at the New Zealand rugby haka. Ahead of a match against Canada, he wrote: ‘Must be hard not to just laugh at this if you’re the opposition.’
He removed it, adding: ‘I’ve deleted the tweet as it wasn’t intended that way in the slightest. I was just wondering why as an opposing sportsmen it would be in anyway intimidating after seeing it for so many years. I should probably have phrased it that way.’
When BBC Director-General Tim Davie took over the helm, he vowed to stamp out political tweets from its stars. Rather than welcome the move, Lineker mocked him, replying ‘nah’ in response to suggestions he should be ‘terrified’ of the clampdown.
As a freelance presenter Lineker has space to voice his opinions and has not been hamstrung by the BBC’s code of impartiality which restricts full-time workers. He is among a number of stars not bound by the social media rules.
Source: Read Full Article
