Fans notice awkward interaction between Lucy Bronze and Gianni Infantino during medal ceremony
Fans spotted an awkward moment between England's Lucy Bronze and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the medal ceremony following today's Women's World Cup final.
As we all know, England suffered heartbreak as Spain won 1-0 to win the Women's World Cup today (20 August).
If the Lionesses had taken home the trophy, they would have landed a cash prize of £4.29 million, which doesn't sound too shabby but is a way off the £32.9 million the winning Argentinian men's side took home at Qatar last year.
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Many people have called out the pay discrepancy, and Infantino has promised equal prize money for the men's and women's teams by 2027 - but his recent comments have been criticised as tone deaf by some fans.
The 53-year-old said at a press conference: "Pick the right battles. Pick the right fights. You have the power to change.
"You have the power to convince us men what we have to do and what we don’t have to do. You do it. Just do it.
"With men, with FIFA, you will find open doors. Just push the doors. They are open.
"And do it also at national level, in every country, at continental level, in every confederation.
"Just keep pushing, keep the momentum, keep dreaming, and let’s really go for a full equality."
And, if fan speculation is to be believed, Bronze is among those who didn't take too kindly to Infantino's comments.
As the 31-year-old collected her runners-up medal, she failed to make eye contact with the FIFA president and gave him a limp-looking handshake.
She then made eye contact with the rest of the delegates on the stage and shook their hands in what seemed to be a clear snub to Infantino.
The moment didn't go unnoticed by fans online as they praised the Lionesses star.
One Twitter user wrote: "My hero," and a second tweeted: "Love that woman so much."
A third added: "As she should."
Infantino's words have come under fire from multiple corners.
BBC presenter Gabby Logan called his comments 'ridiculous and reductive' while former England players Ellen White and Fara Williams also slammed the football chief.
White said: "He should be opening those doors and this World Cup has shown the world what women's football can do.
"What women can do on the biggest stage, how they can light up each nation, how they can inspire generations.
"You can see by the investment from Australia. We need them to help us and open those doors and give women's football a platform to grow and develop."
Williams added: "If he wants the door to be knocked down, let us women bombard his door down."
Simon Fearn