Blogger Campbell scores own goal

Alastair Campbell has upset Labour colleagues after complaining in his World Cup blog about women columnists who write about football.

Writing on the Labour Party website, Tony Blair's former communications chief has launched an excoriating attack on women journalists "suddenly imagining that the world needs to know... how confused they get that there is a Ronaldo playing for Brazil and another playing for Portugal".

His remarks have irritated women MPs, including Hazel Blears, the party chairman. She congratulates the former spin doctor on his blog but says, on the website: "Hang on... Loads of women know a huge amount about football and thousands of them are out in Germany. Come on England!"

One female Labour supporter said: "Hey Alistair [sic]... I can explain the offside rule AND I'm only a girl."