Shorts shock for footie girls

The world's top soccer administrator has called on women to wear skimpier shorts in a bid to promote the game.

Sepp Blatter, president of football's governing body Fifa, wants to create a "more female aesthetic" in women's soccer kit. "Let the women play in more feminine clothes like they do in volleyball," he said. "They could, for example have tighter shorts.

"Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball.

"That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?"

His remarks attracted the wrath of female players who have a growing following and consider themselves serious athletes.

"Typical of a bloke, he doesn't know what he is talking about," said Pauline Cope, the veteran England and Charlton goalkeeper.

Cope, who used to train with David Seaman when she was at Arsenal, said: "We don't use a lighter ball for one thing, and to say we should play football in hotpants is plain ridiculous. It's completely irresponsible for a man in a powerful position to make comments like this."

Marieanne Spacey, manager of Fulham, said: "Surely it's about skill and tactical ability first and how people look second." Norwegian player Lise Klaveness said: "If the crowd only wants to come and watch models then they should go and buy a copy of Playboy."

There is a certain paradox in mentioning Playboy because some American women players posed naked in the magazine-to promote their World Cup in 1999.

The lasting image of that tournament is that of Brandi Chastain whipping off her top in front of 90,000 fans to reveal her bra in celebration at the US beating China.

The film Bend It Like Beckham - a huge hit in the States and here - consolidated the game's hold on the public's imagination. In Britain the numbers playing has increased from 10,400 in 1993 to 88,000. It has overtaken netball as the favourite sport for girls.