UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin criticized for warning Lionesses manager Sarah Wiegman that his coach of the year trophy was “heavy”.

It was Wiegman’s second time receiving the UEFA trophy and she I dedicated it to the Spanish side this beat England in the World Cup final.

However, when Ceferin presented the award at the event in Monaco, he told Wiegman: “Be careful, it’s heavy.”

Social media users were quick to criticize the UEFA president for the comment.

One wrote: “Absolutely no way the UEFA President told Sarina Weigman ‘be careful, it’s heavy’ when awarding her Coach of the Year. Honestly, mate… after the last two weeks, do you want to condescend?’

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin presents the Coach of the Year trophy to England coach Sarina Wiegman in Monaco

Sarina Wiegman dedicated her UEFA Women’s Coach of the Year award to Spain

Social media users were quick to criticize the UEFA president for the comment.

One said it was another example of a recurring event

Another called men in football “cranky” when interacting with women involved in the sport.

Another posted: “What is it with men telling women to be careful that the trophy they are about to receive is heavy? It happened again.

A third added: “Why are men in football so grumpy with women involved in the sport??

It’s been less than two weeks since England’s heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final of Sydney.

However, Spain’s glory was overshadowed by the ‘Kissgate’ scandal which saw Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales bizarrely kiss star Jenni Hermoso.

Wiegman received the award from Ceferin after guiding the Lionesses to victory in Euro 2022 last year, as well as the World Cup final this month.

The English coach took the time to castigate the Spanish Federation and Rubiales during the UEFA ceremony, which also took place for the Champions League draw.

Wiegman said the “Kissgate” scandal shows there is a long way to go in women’s soccer and in society.

The England manager praised Spain for playing “excellent football” at the World Cup and said they “deserve to be celebrated”.

“Can I send a message, please?” » Wiegman said after answering the host’s first questions about his successful year.

“Well, first of all, thank you everyone for voting, especially of course my colleagues, it’s really special, I’m very honored.

“Thank you also to everyone involved with the Lionesses, of course the team, the incredible squad, players and staff and the support of the FA.

“But it’s also a little different. We all know the problems around the Spanish team, it really hurts me as a coach, as a mother of two daughters, as a wife and as a human being. This shows that the game has grown so much but still has a long way to go. going into women’s football and into society.

“I would like to dedicate this award to the Spanish team, the team that played such wonderful football at the World Cup that everyone enjoyed.

“This team deserves to be celebrated and deserves to be listened to. I will give them a warm round of applause and I hope you will join me.

Later, World Cup winner Aitana Bonmati received her UEFA Women’s Player of the Year award before also addressing the Rubiales situation.

“I appreciate Sarina Wiegman’s words,” she began.

Aitana Bonmati thanked Wiegman after receiving the Player of the Year award and said she stood with her colleagues, including her Spain teammate Jenni Hermoso.

Wiegman dedicated the award to Spain after receiving the award from UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin

“It’s not a good time for Spanish football. The World Cup didn’t go as it should and I wouldn’t like to let the page turn.

“As a society, we must not allow abuse of power in workplace relationships or lack of respect. I am with my colleagues and with Jenni Hermoso.

Mail Sport previously reported that FIFA will push for Rubiales to be banned of all football for 15 years after the disgraced Spanish FA president’s own federation radically withdrew its support for him.

Spanish FA leaders have asked Rubiales, 46, to resign with immediate effect, saying his “unacceptable” behavior had caused “serious damage to the image of Spanish football”.

The turnaround followed a threat from FIFA to ban Spanish national teams and elite clubs from international competition if the Spanish FA refused to accept its punishment.

Rubiales was asked to step down by the Spanish Federation which made a U-turn on its president.

Rubiales was last week handed a provisional 90-day suspension by FIFA and had previously retained the support of the Spanish FA, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into his extraordinary behavior in kissing Hermoso.

After a five-hour meeting on Monday, the Spanish Football Federation confirmed it had now asked him to step down.

Rubiales has categorically refused to quit until now, and he sent FIFA a copy of the recently published images showing the women’s soccer team celebrating and joking about their famous kiss.

Hermoso has denied claims the kiss was consensual.