Back to school for girl in football row

More and more girls are playing football in school

A schoolgirl from Greater Manchester who was suspended for refusing to play football is back in class.

Rebecca Martin was excluded for two days from The Deans Primary School in Salford, Greater Manchester.

She was also sent home for a day last week after complaining that football was only for boys.

Her father, John Martin, said his daughter was worried she might hurt herself on the pitch.

Football is a boy's game. Girls should play something like tennis or netball

John Martin

He said: "Maybe I am old-fashioned but football is a boys game. It is thuggish. Girls should play something like tennis or netball."

Mr Martin insists his daughter objected to playing football because of her own beliefs, not his, but admits he is opposed to football in general.

"This is not us, this is Becky's view. She thinks football is for boys and she is a very, very feminine little girl," he said.

The trouble began when The Deans put football on the curriculum in January.

Compromise

The school offered a compromise, that Rebecca could take part just in the training for the game, but this did not satisfy the family.

The head teacher, Francis Hartley, said staffing levels meant it would not be possible to supervise another sport.

"We have bent over backwards to avoid all this but we have had no alternative," she said.

The family have complained to the local education authority, Salford, and say they intend to take legal action.