GETAFE have confirmed they will change the name of their stadium following sexist comments from former footballer Alfonso Perez.
The LaLiga side’s ground was named the Coliseum Alfonso Perez in honour of the Getafe-born player – who never played for the club.
GettyGetafe have confirmed they are changing the name of the Coliseum Alfonso Perez[/caption]
ReutersAlfonso Perez has been criticised for making sexist comments[/caption]
But they have now announced the stadium will be re-named simply “the Coliseum”.
This comes as a direct response to Perez’s remarks about women’s football.
The ex-Real Madrid, Barcelona and Spain striker told El Mundo: “Women’s football and men’s football cannot be compared at all because everything depends on the income you generate and the media impact.
“I’d like to earn what Cristiano Ronaldo earns, but I’m not that good. It is what it is.
“Women’s football has evolved, but it should have its feet on the ground and know that they can’t compare themselves in any sense with a male footballer.”
In response, Getafe, who recently signed Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood on loan, have opted to remove his name from the title of their home stadium.
It comes after criticism from the mayor of Getafe from the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, Sara Hernandez Barroso.
She called on Getafe president Angel Torres to remove Perez’s name.
Mason Greenwood joined Getafe on loan in the summer transfer windowRex
The stadium, which was opened in 1998, is owned by the Getafe council.
And they released a joint statement along with the club on Wednesday.
It read: “The ex-footballer (Perez) pointed out the impossibility for a female player to earn the same as her male partners, transferring the idea of football as a mere economic business, instead of extolling such important aspects of sport as self-improvement, effort or equality; minimising the social achievements obtained by the current world champions on and off the pitch.”
Along with his sexist remarks, Perez, who retired in 2005, also commented on Pep Guardiola’s previous comments about supporting Catalonian independence from Spain.
He said: “In his case, as in others and in that of the girls (in reference to Spain’s women’s team), I’d force them to kiss the Spanish flag to know they defend their country’s shirt with honour and honesty.
“That is the first thing and then you can protest for what you want. It’s good that they ask for what they consider, but the national team is above everything.”
Meanwhile, Man Utd man Greenwood has started life in Getafe with one assist in four games.
They sit 11th in the LaLiga table with just two wins from eight matches.