Latest information from American sports world is making the female football community stir. The National Women’s Football Federation (NWSL), the leading professional tournament management organization for women in the United States, is said to have made a controversial decision: ending the relationship with Megan Rapinoe, one of the most famous and influential players in the history of women’s football. The reason given is not a professional or playing form, but regarding her personal opinion. Specifically, NWSL believes that Rapinoe’s “awakening” lifestyle and statements are damaging the image and development of women’s sports. This is a heavy allegation, especially when targeting a character that was once honored with a female Golden Ball and a symbol of the movement for gender equality.

Megan Rapinoe is not only an excellent player on the pitch but also a strong voice in real life. She often spoke about social issues such as gender inequality, racism and rights of the LGBTQ+community. These views helped her attract a large number of fans, but at the same time created many mixed opinions. Some people think that Rapinoe’s “awakening” is necessary to promote changes in society and sports. However, the NWSL seems to see this in a negative way, saying that it is distracted and affects the pure competition of football.

This decision was made in the context of the debate about the role of politics and culture in sports became increasingly fierce. Many professional sports in the world are facing the question: Should athletes should use their reputation to express their personal views? In the case of Rapinoe, NWSL seems to have chosen to eliminate a factor that they consider to be disturbed, instead of trying to reconcile. This immediately exploded mixed reactions on social networks. Some supporters of NWSL’s decision, argued that sports should focus on competition and entertainment, not a place to argue political. Meanwhile, others criticized the organization for “punishing” a player for daring to speak up for the values ​​she believed in.

Currently, both Megan Rapinoe and NWSL have not made any official statement to clarify the situation. Fans are waiting to see if this is the end of the relationship between Rapinoe and the tournament that she has contributed to raising or not. No matter what the result, this incident will surely continue to be the focus of the discussions, not only in football but also in the entire sport world. It asks a big question about the boundary between personal freedom and collective responsibility in a field that is considered to be the place to connect people.