Controversy over Brigitte Baptiste's proposal that a woman lead the Colombian national team

Through a press release, on Monday afternoon, the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) announced that Reinaldo Rueda left the technical direction of the Colombian national team. This decision was made after the 'tricolor' did not qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“The Executive Committee of the Colombian Football Federation at its ordinary meeting held today, agreed with Professor Reinaldo Rueda, his disengagement from the position of technical director of the Colombian Men's Senior Team, as well as its coaching staff,” the entity said in an official statement.

The sports institution also sent its thanks to the Caleño coach, who had taken over as coach of the 'tricolor' in January 2021. “In this regard, we express to Professor Rueda and his collaborators our sincere wishes for success in their career and in their personal projects, without first expressing our appreciation for their dedication and work.”

Regarding Rueda's successor, the FCF pointed out that it will “analyze and evaluate existing options” to determine who will be the new technician of the 'coffee' combined “in the near future”.

On the other hand, Ramón Jesurún, president of the Colombian Football Federation, spoke at 6AM Hoy por Hoy de Caracol Radio for the first time after Colombia left out the World Cup after finishing in sixth place in the South American Qualifying with 23 points.

“The cycle ends, a period that was not successful, we all aimed in his head to qualify and the project was not achieved, and this Monday, by mutual agreement, and more by almost his decision, the relationship with Rueda was ended, thanking him for everything he did, the efforts that were made, but in sports the objectives that were not achieved we had and it was painful, because it is a great human being and it is not easy to make these decisions”, explained Jesurún.

The departure of Reinaldo Rueda sparked social networks, as different sectors of the country have commented on the work of the vallecaucano coach and the performance of coffee growers in the qualifying phase for the World Cup. In fact, Brigitte Baptiste, rector of EAN University, sparked a great debate on social media after giving her opinion on who should reach the leadership of the national squad.

“It's time to think about a woman to lead the men's soccer team in Colombia,” Baptiste wrote through his official Twitter account. This triune caused all kinds of comments, as several netizens supported his proposal, but others questioned it because there is not yet a group of women who meet the demands of a technical management, which must meet a number of requirements and good results.

“Do you have a name? The subject doesn't make sense if there are no candidates. It's like saying that the coach must be Italian because they won the Europa Cup. You need a technician to take advantage of the litter of strikers. And, above all, to lead a process at all levels. Be it male or female”, can be read in one of the comments.

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