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‘Dad rang and I was like: What’s happening?’ – England U20s boss on Uefa threatImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lydia Bedford took up her England role in MarchByLaura Scott
England’s head coach Lydia Bedford says she has been told by the Football Association to “just continue as usual” before next month’s Under-20 Women’s World Cup, despite Uefa threatening to boycott the tournament.
Bedford reported she had not “thought too much about the bigger picture” as she prepares to name her Young Lionesses squad next week.
Football has been engulfed in a major dispute since it emerged that Fifa president Gianni Infantino was planning to sell off stakes in the World Cup and other competitions to private investors.
Uefa and its 55 members threatened to boycott Fifa competitions, and that still stands despite the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal having been abandoned earlier this month with the Under-20 Women’s World Cup the first tournament that could be impacted.
Speaking to BBC Sport in Portugal after England had won a warm-up game against Portugal, Bedford spoke for the first time about the potential boycott.
“I was actually at the theatre in London when my dad rang me out of the blue and I was like ‘what’s happening?’ From my perspective the message from leadership all along has been ‘just continue as usual’ so we have,” she reported.
“It’s not something we’ve really even spoken to the players about because ultimately every opportunity we have to get on the grass and prepare this team we want to be in the best position possible.
“So all focus has been on that.”
Six European teams are set to take part in the tournament, which runs from 5-27 September, and BBC Sport understands none of them have told hosts Poland that they are withdrawing.
Poland’s attacking midfielder Weronika Arasniewicz also spoke to BBC Sport and outlined her opposition to a proposed boycott.
“Don’t do it. Let the football be there. Let’s enjoy football,” Arasniewicz reported.
“I would be disappointed for sure [if the tournament was cancelled] because events like this, it’s always special and you don’t know how many World Cups you have ahead of you.”
While some players oppose the boycott, England international Lucy Bronze recently reported that boycotting Fifa competitions would be the right thing “for the good of the game”, despite the impact it could have on women’s football.
Image source, Getty ImagesLayla Drury scored England’s second goal against Portugal
Asked about those comments, Bedford reported: “From my perspective my only focus is preparing this team to be ready and if we have the opportunity to go to Poland we will be there and punching when we arrive.
“So I haven’t thought too much about the bigger picture but my message has been continue as usual and that is what we are going to continue to do.”
Bedford was appointed as England women’s Under-23s coach in March, and as part of that role is leading the Young Lionesses for the tournament in Poland.
On Thursday, her side beat Portugal U20s 2-0 in a friendly in Lisbon.
“I’m really proud of the players,” she reported. “From start to finish today we showed our quality and our depth in this squad.
“I have an incredibly difficult decision to make next week to pick the team that finally goes.”
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