Queensland has broken its promise to create a statue in the Matildas’ honour after their giant-slaying run at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup and have gone with a plaque instead – leaving soccer fans furious.
The national side became the first Australian team, male or female, to reach the semi-finals of a FIFA World Cup last year.
While the Matildas would ultimately lose that semifinal to England, history had already been made and then-Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk pledged to build them a statue at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in August 2023.
The Queensland Government ultimately decided against that and instead went for a bronze bas-relief ‘mural’ showing the players celebrating.
Unveiled on Tuesday, the mural captures the moment players reacted to Courtnee Vine slotting home the penalty that delivered victory over France and propelled Australia into the semis.
The 5.5m-long, 2.1m-wide installation sits at the southern entrance to Suncorp and it has been lashed by footy fans and pundits alike.
‘I had low expectations for this Matildas mural outside Suncorp Stadium but not even I expected… what this is,’ posted sports journalist Mark Gottlieb.
‘The Matildas have finally gotten their statue* at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane after their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup performance. *Not a statue. Actually just a plaque,’ posted journalist Luke Cooper.
The Matildas have been immortalised in a bronze mural outside Suncorp Stadium after they were originally promised a statue would be created in their honour
The Matildas captivated the nation at last year’s Women’s World Cup and the mural depicts their reaction to the penalty that propelled them into the semifinals (pictured)
Then-Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s promise to the national team has been broken – and the replacement mural has gone down like a lead balloon
‘It’s about as insulting as a token gesture can be. Even print out a photo and laminate it would look better,’ posted another X user.
‘The Matildas mural looks like something you’d see on a $1 coin,’ replied another.
However, Matildas star Tameka Yallop said being immortalised in bronze is a huge honour.
‘Women have contributed an incredible amount to sport in Australia, and left a significant mark, as they created moments like us that have united a nation, whether it’s Betty Cuthbert, Susie O’Neill, Cathy Freeman, or, more recently, Emma McKeon, Jess Fox and the female athletes that accounted for over 60 per cent of our Paris 2024 Olympic medallists,’ Yallop told News Corp.
Posts like this one summed up Aussie soccer fans’ reaction to the replacement for the statue Sam Kerr and her teammates were promised
Many fans used humour to highlight their disappointment with the new addition to Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium
Some commenters were vicious when it came to highlighting how unimpressive the bronze mural is to them
‘It’s wonderful to see so many young girls and boys, men and women here today, inspired by the feats of women in sport, and we are humbled to be part of that legacy through the FIFA Women’s World Cup.’
Queensland Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman said earlier this year that the Matildas had inspired more women and girls to get active and involved in sport.
‘It is fantastic that their efforts will be recognised with a permanent tribute,’ she said.
‘I can’t wait to see it in place later this year.
‘The Matildas brought the country together through their performances and had a profound impact on our sporting landscape.
‘In a nation that loves its sport, the Matildas were not only the most watched team on Australian television in 2023, their semi-final against England was the most watched event in Australian television history.’