La Liga club drop Alfonso Perez from stadium name after sexist comments

Getafe have dropped the name of former Spain striker Alfonso Perez from their stadium after he made disparaging remarks about female footballers.

It comes as Spain deals with the sexism scandal which overshadowed the nation’s historic Women’s World Cup victory.

Getafe’s council owns the stadium and instigated the name change.

“The municipal facility is an example to transmit positive values ​​of sport such as equality, solidarity and respect,” said the local government.

The decision comes weeks after the La Liga club were criticised for signing Manchester United’s English forward Mason Greenwood on a season-long loan.

Criminal charges against 22-year-old Greenwood, including attempted rape and assault of a women, were dropped in February.

In an interview with El Mundo newspaper last weekend, Perez said female soccer players should not be paid as much as men because they do not generate as much income and media coverage.

“Female football has evolved, but they have to keep their feet on the ground and know that in no sense can they be equated to a man footballer,” he said.

Getafe and the council released a joint statement on Wednesday announcing the decision to remove his name from the stadium.

Former Real Madrid and Barcelona striker Perez was born in Getafe but never played for the club.

The stadium was named Coliseum Alfonso Perez when it was built in 1998, and will now be known simply as Coliseum.