‘Male privilege has always been at the centre’ - Chelsea manager & incoming USWNT boss Emma Hayes hits back at Joey Barton’s comments and highlights ‘systemic misogyny' in the women’s game

Former Manchester City midfielder, Barton, in a misogynistic rant that "women shouldn't be talking with any kind of authority in the men's game." The former footballer made these comments in the wake of Amazon Prime's coverage of top-flight midweek fixtures with female commentators and pundits in prominent roles.

Hayes unleashed a scathing attack on the former footballer and without naming him insisted that female sportspersons are exposed to "systemic misogyny" day in and day out.

When asked about Barton's comments by reporters, Hayes said: "The realities are male privilege has always been at the centre of football in this country. I feel that sport is the last place in society where male privilege exists.

"I don't expect any individual to understand their privilege. Nonetheless, you only have to see scores of women across the internet or in the business - whether that's coaches, presenters, or players - we're routinely used to dealing with systemic misogyny, bullying and behaviour that has been pretty normal for a large part of the football public."

Hayes has herself worked as a TV pundit during the men's Euros 2021 for ITV and boasts of having led Chelsea to six Women's Super League titles.

"If you haven't experienced systemic misogyny like lots of us have, you can't for one moment understand how detrimental some of these conversations are knowing that anything anyone says just enables an absolute pile on, particularly on social media," she said. "When it comes to the sport of football in this case, we have to remember that society isn't always as well represented across the media or the game in coaching or playing."

Barton wassacked by League One side Bristol Rovers in October. He also faced immense criticism when he referred to the racist murder of teenager Anthony Walker as a "scrap." His notorious family history came to light when his brother, Michael Barton, was involved in the 2005 killing of the 18-year-old leading to a life sentence alongside his cousin Paul Taylor.

Hayes, who is soon going to take charge of the USWNT, stressed that women in sports undergo unnecessary scrutiny and insisted that their "positive contributions" should be further amplified.

"We wouldn't go into a hospital and have a female physician who's carrying out a surgical procedure on someone's kidney - we wouldn't turn around and say to that surgeon 'I hope she's a good patient because being a good patient means you're going to be a good doctor," she said.

"It's the same about being a great banker - does that mean you have to be a frugal spender to be a good banker? Much in the same way, do you have to be a well-travelled passenger to be a good pilot?"