World Cup: ITV select an ALL-FEMALE on-screen panel for Saudi Arabia clash with Poland
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ITV selects a FEMALE ONLY panel on screen for the first time for a men’s World Cup match, while presenter Seema Jaswal is joined by Karen Carney and Eni Aluko in the historic moment…and TV bosses just happen to select a Saudi Arabia game to do it!
ITV broadcast the country’s first match for the Men’s World Cup with an all-female panel on screen – and they just happened to select a match from Saudi Arabia.
The live show was hosted by Seema Jaswal with pundits and former England internationals Karen Carney and Eni Aluko ahead of the Group C match between Saudi Arabia and Poland at Education City Stadium in Doha on Saturday.
Nadia Nadim, a former Denmark international, was also said to be involved, but dropped out on Tuesday after her mother’s sudden death.
There was no comment from ITV, but it’s unlikely it was pure coincidence that they came together for the historic moment to present a high-profile game in a weekend slot with Saudi Arabia.
Women’s rights have become a major issue during the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East, with Iranian players daring to protest their own state’s strict policies by refusing to sing the national anthem in their opening game against England.
ITV selects an all-female on-screen panel for a men’s World Cup match for the first time as presenter Seema Jaswal (left) is joined by Karen Carney (right) and Eni Aluko (centre)
The all-female panel covered Saudi Arabia’s World Cup group stage match against Poland
Protests in the streets of Iran after the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the ‘morals police’ for not covering her hair.
There was another World Cup flashpoint when Iran manager Carlos Queiroz was enraged by a question in a press conference about the protests from BBC Persia reporter Shaimaa Khalil.
Queiroz snapped back at asking politically sensitive questions to the executives from other countries, such as asking Gareth Southgate about Afghanistan.
Saudi Arabia is another country where Islamic law restricts women’s freedom and where, according to Amnesty, “women continue to face severe discrimination in marriage, divorce, inheritance and child custody.”
Former England internationals Carney (right) and Aluko (left) pictured ahead of the Group C game
An estimated 18 million viewers watched England’s draw against the US on ITV on Friday.