Mixed-gender futsal league introduces special rules for women, sparking debate on gender equality in sports.
“Beautiful!” A woman’s triumphant yell slices through the typical futsal pitch cacophony of shuffling feet, balls being punted, and rattling cages. Her team had just intercepted the ball, and it found the striker. The opposing goalie rushes out, but that proves to be a mistake. The striker taps the ball with her foot just so, and it rolls in between the goalie’s legs.
The stakes aren’t very high at this point—the score is already 20-1—but the scoring team erupts in celebration nonetheless. This goal, scored by a woman, counts twice, making the scoreline 22-1.
This isn’t a typical futsal match. Two teams have gathered at Kick Off! in Kovan on a balmy Thursday night for D2D Sports’ Mixed Fives league. As the name suggests, the league features mixed-gender teams competing in weekly five-a-side futsal matches.
Tonight’s match sees Futsal Kakis FC take on PSG FC. No, not the French football club, Paris Saint-Germain, but a local team whose name—Papa Sakit Gigi (Malay for “father having a toothache”)—reflects the playful nature of the league.
The Mixed Fives league is notable for several reasons. First, it’s Singapore’s first-ever co-ed futsal league. Second, it features several novel rules aimed at promoting female participation: Each goal scored by a woman counts as two goals, and any direct free-kick fouls committed against women result in penalty kicks. Additionally, each team must have at least one woman on the field at all times.
When Accommodations Look Like Sexism
These rules have been divisive since Mixed Fives kicked off on October 26th. Some online commentators believe the special rules imply that women are weaker, less likely to score, and in need of coddling.
Grace Ke, a recreational football player with eight years of experience, called the rules sexist in a column for TODAY, arguing that equality means having the same rules for everyone: “Scoring goals takes skill and effort for any player. Injuries hurt the same for anyone,” she wrote.
However, D2D Executive Director Rasvinder Bhullar, who created the league, argues that the league’s design focuses on equity rather than equality. He acknowledges that men and women are often treated differently, both physically and socially, and he hopes to level the playing field with these rules.
Bhullar explains that some female players expressed concerns about safety when playing in mixed-gender leagues. “There are some things on the line—even if it’s not for cash prizes,” he says, noting that tempers can flare and physical play can lead to injuries.
For Bhullar, these rules help female players feel safer and more incentivized to participate, and they’ve been received positively by many players. While the majority support the “double goals” rule, Bhullar is open to tweaking the rules for future editions of the league.
Gender Dynamics on the Futsal Field
The most obvious difference in the Mixed Fives league is the rule that awards women two goals for each goal they score. This isn’t a handicap but a way to ensure that women are given a more prominent role in their teams.
In practice, the rules have led to more women being involved in the action. Futsal Kakis, for example, maintained a majority-female lineup throughout their 40-minute match against PSG FC, and their strategy was clear: let the women play and capitalize on the double goals.
PSG FC, in contrast, had only one female player on the field for most of the game. Syazlin, the 21-year-old first-time player for PSG, was called in last minute, and her team had her playing defense after she made several impressive saves. Despite the scoreline being heavily skewed, Syazlin played without hesitation, making bold moves to stop the advancing opposition.
A Double-Edged Sword
While Futsal Kakis embraced the rules to their advantage, some players questioned whether women even needed the special accommodations. After all, the women were performing just as well as the men. The goal-scoring disparity reflected the effectiveness of the team’s strategy rather than any inherent gender weakness.
As Futsal Kakis’ captain Izyan Syazwan explained, while women may generally be smaller than men, the rules give female players an edge, helping to increase their involvement in the game. Female players like Cherly Kwan agreed, calling the two-goal rule an incentive that encouraged more women to play in the league.
Despite the positive reception from some female players, others, like Grace Ke, believe that these accommodations reinforce gender stereotypes. They argue that the focus should be on equal play for everyone—no special rules based on gender.
The Fight for Equal Footing
Gender stereotypes in sports aren’t unique to futsal. At higher levels of competition, women’s football often receives less attention and funding than men’s, despite the fact that women’s teams have demonstrated equal or superior skill. But even in recreational leagues, female players often find themselves needing to prove their worth.
Players like Syazlin and Cherly acknowledge the challenge of proving themselves in a male-dominated sport. Despite the progress, the lingering stereotype that women cannot perform at the same level as men continues to affect women’s participation in futsal and football.
For some, the Mixed Fives rules serve as a stepping stone, a way to encourage more women to get involved in futsal without feeling like they’re being held back. But for others, the debate continues: Is it better to level the playing field by giving women a boost, or should the rules be the same for everyone from the start?
Conclusion: Striving for Inclusivity
Mixed Fives has sparked important conversations about co-ed sports, gender equality, and the future of women’s participation in futsal. While the rules remain divisive, they are part of an effort to make futsal more inclusive and accessible for women. Whether these rules continue or evolve in future editions of the league, the conversation about equity and inclusion in sports is one that will continue to shape the way we approach gender in competitive play.
As the league moves forward, the focus remains on fostering a fun and fair environment where both men and women can compete, prove themselves, and enjoy the beautiful game together.
