USA striker Alex Morgan defends controversial tea cup celebration… as male stars are always 'grabbing their sacks'

Posted Saturday, July 06, 2019 by Thesun.co.uk

USA ace Alex Morgan has slammed critics of her "sipping on tea" celebration from the World Cup semi-finals clash against England.

The Orlando Pride forward says men "grabbing their sacks" don't face as much scrutiny and claims females in sport are subjected to double standards.

USA striker Alex Morgan defends controversial tea cup celebration… as male stars are always 'grabbing their sacks'
Alex Morgan celebrates her goal against England by 'sipping on a tea' Credit: Reuters

USA striker Alex Morgan defends controversial tea cup celebration… as male stars are always 'grabbing their sacks'
Morgan claims that male players 'grabbing their sacks' do not face same scrutiny like women Credit: Rex Features

Morgan bagged the game-winner to seal their 2-1 victory over Phil Neville's Lionesses on Tuesday.

And after the ball rattled the net, she poked fan at England by sticking her pinky out while pretending she was drinking a cuppa.

England and Juventus forward Lianne Sanderson led criticism of the American, calling the celebration "distasteful".

And British journalist Piers Morgan has been even more candid in his condemnation of Morgan's celebration.

He called the gesture "cocky" and said it was "bordering on a declaration of war".

But USA star Morgan has hit back, claiming female football players are not allowed to celebrate their goals as freely as men.

She also added her gesture was not aimed at England, but rather inspired by British actresses Sophie Turner.

Morgan said: "My celebration was actually more about, 'That's the tea', which is telling a story, spreading news.

"Sophie Turner does it quite often, she's one of my favourite actresses, so it wasn't a hit to England in any way.

"I feel that there is some sort of double standard for females in sports to feel like we have to be humble in our successes and have to celebrate, but not too much, and have to do something but it always has to be in a limited fashion.

"You see men celebrating all around the world in big tournaments, grabbing their sacks or whatever it is, and when I look at sipping a cup of tea, I'm a little taken aback.

"You have to laugh about it to see all of the criticism."

FOOT BALLS

Morgan was referring to Diego Simeone grabbing his "cojones" in Atletico Madrid's 2-0 victory over Juventus last season.

But the Serie A champs overcame a two-goal deficit in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie, courtesy of Cristiano Ronaldo and his hat-trick.

And the former Real Madrid star mocked Simeone by pulling off the same celebration after he bagged one of his goals.

The Atletico gaffer was actually fined about £17,000 by Uefa for his actions.

But Ronaldo escaped any punishment.

Meanwhile, Morgan's actions hilariously caught the attention of Yorkshire Tea.

The company said it had posted a box of tea to Morgan at the USA team hotel.

They also wrote on Twitter: "Dear US women’s team, Sorry you had to drink pretend tea.

"If you’d run out of the proper stuff, you only had to ask!

"PS. No hard feelings — good luck on Sunday [in the Women's World Cup final against Holland]"