Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali in sexism row after claiming women’s football ‘aligns to Satan’s ideas’

The controversial Romanian said he will ‘quit football’ if forced to start a women’s team and follows in a long line of sexist, racist and homophobic comments

Gigi Becali claimed he would quit football if Steaua Bucharest had to start a women's team (Getty)

Steaua Bucharest owner Gigi Becali has triggered a sexism row in Romanian football after revealing the club will never have a women’s team as long as he’s in charge, citing female football as “against human nature” and “aligning to Satan’s ideas”.

Sixty-year-old Becali’s deplorable comments are the latest in a long line of controversial remarks, having previous for expressing racist, sexist and homophobic views along with being convicted of corruption that forced him to resign from the Romanian parliament.

With women’s football on the rise ahead of next year’s World Cup in France, Becali’s comments have received a monumental backlash, yet the 60-year-old clearly does not care what people think of him given his long line of controversies.

Asked on Romanian TV channel Pro X whether he would consider launching a women’s side, Becali answered “you can't do things against God's will” before adding “I’ll quit football”.

“How can a woman play football?” he said.

Becali has made previous deplorable comments about race, gender and sexuality (Getty)

“She isn't built for playing football. Her body isn't made for football. It's dangerous. The female was created to be beautiful, to attract the opposite sex.

“We are affecting women by letting them play football or by allowing them to box. They should play handball, volleyball, basketball, but not aggressive sports.”

His previous controversies include running a presidential campaign in 2004 that featured a promise to oppose sexual minorities, as well as a second run in 2009. On both occasions, Becali received fewer than two per cent of the polls.

In 2006, Becali was widely criticised for saying publicly: “Why so many homosexuals (in Romania)? I'll give $2m or $5m (for a referendum), so we can finish off all homosexuals in the country.”

He also refused to sign former Liverpool striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle because he was black, and stated in 2010 that the club will never sign a gay footballer.