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An Australian commentator has come under fire for a comment he made about Katrina Gorry.
CNN
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A commentator for Australia’s Channel Seven network has been slammed for a comment he made about Matildas star Katrina Gorry during the team’s 1-0 World Cup win over the Republic of Ireland female Thursday.
“Granted motherhood hasn’t dulled her competitive instincts, that’s for sure,” David Basheer said during match commentary. “She is a fighter for Australia.”
CNN has contacted Channel Seven for comment.
Gorry, 30, gave birth to daughter Harper in 2021.
Social media was plagued with criticism of Basheer. One Twitter user described the comment as “painfully ignorant”, while another asked: “Has he met a lot of mothers? If there’s anything that’s going to make you fearsome and fierce, it’s motherhood!”
Australia’s 1-0 win over Ireland gave the co-hosts’ best possible start to the campaign, despite the blow before kick-off that captain Sam Kerr would miss the first two matches of the tournament due to a a calf injury. .
Seven said its coverage of Australia’s game against Ireland drew an average audience of 1.94 million, peaking at 2.28 million viewers.
The match also recorded a 47.6% viewership share in the country.
The Matildas resume play next Thursday against Nigeria.