Controversy over Olivier Deschacht's football remarks

Football analyst Olivier Deschacht has drawn significant criticism following derogatory remarks about women’s football made during a podcast episode of ‘Ongefilterd’. During the discussion, Deschacht expressed disdain for watching women’s matches, specifically referencing a Champions League game between OHL Women and PSG. He suggested he would only watch if a celebrity like Sydney Sweeney participated, a comment that prompted laughter from fellow panelists.

In response, OHL Women staff and players called for respect. Coach Ster Habibzadeh noted that players work as hard as their male counterparts, while goalkeeper Louise Seynaeve described the dismissive attitude as ‘pathetic’.

As the controversy progressed, Deschacht defended his stance in ‘Het Laatste Nieuws’, stating he was confused by the backlash and argued he is entitled to express his opinions, comparing his lack of interest to his lack of interest in rugby or Formula 1. Public reaction remained divided; writer Herman Brusselmans defended the quality of women’s football, while Imke Courtois described the comments as “stupid” and “disrespectful,” though she suggested the intensity of the backlash might be disproportionate.