Barbra Banda abused online after winning BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year amid gender storm

Zambian footballer Barbra Banda has faced a wave of social media abuse after being named the BBC’s Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Banda, known for her goal-scoring prowess with the U.S.A. team Orlando Pride, was unexpectedly awarded the honour during a team meeting, where her teammates celebrated the news. Expressing her emotions, Banda mentioned feeling “shocked and surprised” by the award. She tweeted a message to aspiring young girls in Africa: “keep that dream and work hard, am telling you it does come true.”

However, she has been subjected to numerous derogatory comments, with accusations of being “a man” and unfairly depriving other female athletes of the award, ‘Independent’ reports.

These accusations are linked to reports from two years ago when the Zambian football federation (Faz) reportedly withdrew Banda from the squad for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco due to concerns that she might not pass a gender verification test required by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

Although it was later confirmed that Banda did not undergo any gender verification test, the president of the Zambian federation, Andrew Kamanga, stated: “All players had to undergo gender verification, a Caf requirement, and unfortunately she did not meet the criteria set by Caf.”

Reports indicated that Banda’s natural testosterone levels exceeded Caf’s maximum allowance, and she had declined hormone suppression treatments because of possible side effects.

Banda’s agent, Anton Maksimov, clarified at the time that she was never “banned” from participating in Wafcon, and she had not taken any gender verification test prior to the competition.

“The decision not to currently feature Barbra at the tournament is Faz’s internal decision based on their own evaluation of her physical conditions before coming to Morocco,” he explained. “I reiterate that nothing, no existing regulations that we are aware of, prevents Barbra’s participation in the Wafcon 2022. Barbra has not failed any medical tests in this regard either.”

Despite the absence of evidence of any wrongdoing, and Banda continuing her career peacefully in the U.S.A., she has been targeted by numerous insults, many of which have focused on her appearance.

The BBC has also faced significant criticism despite not being involved in selecting Banda as the winner. A panel of independent football experts determined the award’s shortlist, and the public chose the winner through voting.

Former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies remarked: “It’s so sad the BBC are actively encouraging the destruction & loss of opportunities for female athletes in sport. I’m so disheartened & disappointed they are actively cheering this unfairness on.”

Author JK Rowling tweeted: “Presumably the BBC decided this was more time efficient than going door to door to spit directly in women’s faces.”

The BBC responded in a statement: “As well as playing in the past two Olympic Games and the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup, Barbra Banda plays for the Zambian national women’s team and in the USA for Orlando Pride making her fully eligible for the award which celebrates talent in women’s football.

“The five-player shortlist was decided by an expert panel made up of current and former professionals, coaches and journalists based on performances in the last twelve months, with the winner voted for by the public.”