FC Basel spark outrage after not inviting women's team to club gala and asking them to work instead
The men's first team were invited to the 125th anniversary bash as guests as well as board members and a group of paying fans
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FC Basel have sparked outrage after not inviting their women's team to their 125th anniversary gala and asking them to work instead.
The men's first team were invited to the bash as guests as well as board members and a select group of paying fans but the women were instead asked to staff the event.
They were detailed to help sell tombola tickets an unnamed observer told CNN while the men were in an adjacent room being served a three-course meal. The women's team were then served sandwiches, according to Swiss publication Prime News.
The club said in a statement they made "as many anniversary party tickets as possible available for the public."
They added: "No departments -- except for our first team, the board and the management of the club -- were invited for this night.
"Since it was our 125th anniversary it was clear, that our first team would take a part in it, for all the previous teams who wrote our history since the founding in 1893.
"There will be another big anniversary event exclusively for all our teams and employees next year."
The move has sparked a furious backlash from fans and onlookers including Swiss politician Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, a lifelong supporter of the club.
"It's really astonishing," Schneider-Schneiter told CNN. "I'm also astonished about the reaction of the young women that they didn't say anything about that."
The club admitted that the women's team were not invited to the event but had "agreed to help" with proceedings.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments