Overview
- In an interview with L’Est Éclair, the 87-year-old former Auxerre coach said women are "made to give birth" with wider pelvises and claimed football "is not made for wide hips."
- He added that the best female players resemble boys, cited sparse attendances to question the spectacle of women’s matches, and invoked an Usain Bolt comparison to argue biological differences.
- Roux tried to temper his stance by expressing respect for young women who play, yet he repeated criticisms that led to swift denunciations from federation leaders, player groups, and political figures.
- Coverage notes he also suggested under-14 or under-15 boys could defeat elite women’s teams, a claim widely rebuked by professionals and former players.
- The episode is being linked to a wider cultural problem as Lyon’s and PSG’s investments underscore the women’s game’s progress, and reporters note the irony that Auxerre’s women lead France’s second division.