Sophia Smith has said the NWSL’s “priorities are all messed up” after the league issued a fine to Alex Morgan for her criticism of referees.
Morgan took to social media on Monday to protest a rough challenge that went uncalled during the San Diego Wave’s defeat to the Kansas City Current over the weekend.
The striker was taken out in the box by a tackle from defender Stine Ballisager, which was deemed to be clean after a VAR review.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Morgan said Ballisager’s tackle could have left her seriously injured.
“In what world is this not a penalty and red card, or even foul? Completely reckless and the leg going in for the tackle doesn’t even get a ball when I cut her?” Morgan said. “Just glad I saw her coming and didn’t plant on that leg or I’d 100% not be walking today.”
In response to Morgan’s criticism, the league issued Morgan a fine on Wednesday for “comments detrimental to the league made on social media.”
That fine didn’t sit well with Portland Thorns star Smith, who stuck up for her teammate on the U.S. women’s national team.
According to Smith, Morgan’s fine was “backwards” and showed the NWSL’s priorities were not where they should be.
this is so backwards and priorities are allll messed up 💀 https://t.co/uj2FTXh8i7
— Sophia Smith (@sophsssmith) September 20, 2023
The NWSL has long been criticized for failing to better protect players on the field, with a lack of adequate training and pay for referees among the issues hampering player safety.
Regardless, it seems like Smith could now be the next player to get fined.
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