Why shouldn’t two opponents kiss each other after a game?

I t is a picture of a kiss – an everyday human interaction between partners after 90 minutes on opposing sides. Posted by Football Is Everywhere along with the caption “Football is Love, everywhere”, the photo of the Damallsvenskan players Anna Tamminen and Rosa Herreros is a perfect example of a sport renowned for its inclusiveness.

On 15 April, top of the table Hammarby hosted Växjö in the third game of the Swedish domestic top-flight season. It was the first time that Tamminen and Herreros had faced each other on the field, a unique situation for the couple but far from uncommon in the women’s game. The 28-year-old Tamminen started in goal for Hammarby, helping her team to a 6-1 victory, while Herreros was named on the visitors’ bench but didn’t make an appearance. After the final whistle and the work on the pitch was done, the couple greeted each other with this simple moment of affection caught by a waiting photographer.

Reaction, overall, has been largely positive reflecting the accepting nature of the game. The series of rainbow emojis and “love is love” replies below the post is a demonstration of the positive impact visibility can have. However, as is the nature with social media, it has unfortunately also garnered a few negative responses. Questions have been raised about professionalism and whether the pitch is the right place for these interactions, especially with teammates on opposing sides.

What these posters fail to understand is the unique position women’s football holds within sport and society as a whole. In stark contrast to their male counterparts, many players feel comfortable and supported enough to be open about their sexuality. Couples are common and well-known across the sport, and while more