Lucy Bronze didn’t have to say a single word to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to send a clear message she was not pleased with his latest comments.
The England national team fell to Spain in the FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, and when Bronze went to claim her silver medal, she appeared to snub Infantino and left him hanging when he offered a handshake. The silent message was delivered shortly after Infantino said women should “pick the right battles” to “convince us, men, what we have to do” over equality issues in soccer.
“I say to all the women—and you know I have four daughters, so I have a few at home—I say to all the women that you have the power to change,” Infantino told reporters Sunday ahead of the final, according to CNN. “Pick the right battles, pick the right fights. You have the power to change.
Lucy Bronze 'blanks' FIFA boss Gianni Infantino after telling women to 'pick right battles' #FifaWWC 😬 pic.twitter.com/0cFZHO2pL3
— Daily Star Sport (@DailyStar_Sport) August 20, 2023
Fans notice awkward moment between Lucy Bronze and Gianni Infantino during medal ceremony. pic.twitter.com/i5GY06CWOn
— SPORTbible (@sportbible) August 20, 2023
“You have the power to convince us, men, what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it, just do it,” Infantino continued. “With me, with FIFA, you will find open doors. Just push the doors, they are open. And, do it also at national level in every country, at continental level, in every confederation. Just keep pushing, keep the momentum [going], keep dreaming, and let’s really go for full equality.”
Bronze has not explicitly commented on Infantino’s message, but that hasn’t stopped the soccer world from reading into the interaction.
