U.S. women’s national team coach Emma Hayes said she ‘understood’ the booing of one of her players, Korbin Albert, as she took to the field in a match against England in London on Saturday.
Earlier this year Albert faced widespread criticism for sharing anti-LGBTQ+ content on social media. She subsequently apologized for her actions after outside pressure, including that of former USWNT midfielder Megan Rapinoe.
The content included a video, publicly shared by the player, of a sermon given in a Christian worship space talking about how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong.
When Albert joined the game on Saturday as a substitute in the 73rd minute, she was met by loud boos from the mostly-English crowd.
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“Of course, I understand the booing, and everybody is entitled to their opinions on it,” Hayes said after the 0-0 draw at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday evening. “My job is not to weigh in on the debate, my job as a football coach is to produce a football team. And like I always do, I’ve sat down with Korbin, I’ve had several conversations with her to make sure that self-development piece is there.
Hayes has said multiple times that Albert has done work…
