FC Basel spark outrage after not inviting women's team to club gala and asking them to work instead

The men's first team were invited to the 125th anniversary bash as guests as well as board members and a group of paying fans

FC Basel have defended the move (Getty Images)

FC Basel have sparked outrage after not inviting their women's team to their 125th anniversary gala and asking them to work instead.

The men's first team were invited to the bash as guests as well as board members and a select group of paying fans but the women were instead asked to staff the event.

They were detailed to help sell tombola tickets an unnamed observer told CNN while the men were in an adjacent room being served a three-course meal. The women's team were then served sandwiches, according to Swiss publication Prime News.

The club said in a statement they made "as many anniversary party tickets as possible available for the public."

The club are celebrating their 125th anniversary (Getty Images)

They added: "No departments -- except for our first team, the board and the management of the club -- were invited for this night.

"Since it was our 125th anniversary it was clear, that our first team would take a part in it, for all the previous teams who wrote our history since the founding in 1893.

"There will be another big anniversary event exclusively for all our teams and employees next year."

The move has sparked a furious backlash from fans and onlookers including Swiss politician Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter, a lifelong supporter of the club.

"It's really astonishing," Schneider-Schneiter told CNN. "I'm also astonished about the reaction of the young women that they didn't say anything about that."

The club admitted that the women's team were not invited to the event but had "agreed to help" with proceedings.