Angry Matildas supporters have slammed Channel 10 over the broadcaster focusing on Nathan Cleary after Mary Fowler’s wonder strike against Chinese Taipei.
Fowler’s long-range effort helped lift the Matildas to a 3-0 win over plucky opponents in Perth on Wednesday night.
It was the 20-year-old’s second goal across the three qualifiers, and the Aussies now have a date with Uzbekistan set for February to book their ticket to Paris 2024.
As Fowler celebrated with her teammates, the Channel 10 cameras quickly panned to her romantic interest, Nathan Cleary, who was cheering her on at Perth’s HBF Stadium.
Football fans have blasted Channel Ten over focusing on Nathan Cleary after Mary Fowler’s goal against Chinese Taipei on Wednesday night
Cleary, Fowlers’s new romantic interest, was cheering her on from the stands
Aussie sport’s hottest romance went public earlier in the day after Fowler, 20, and Cleary, 25, were pictured on an intimate date in a park in Perth.
They could be seen laying together in the middle of an open park by the water – laughing, hugging, chatting, and drinking from the same water bottle.
At one point, Cleary took his shirt off and Fowler lay on his chest.
However, some Matildas fans were not happy about Cleary getting any screen time.
‘Fowler needs all the screen time for that goal, not Nathan Cleary, please Channel 10,’ wrote one fan on X.
‘One of the best footballers in the world and they have to keep cutting to her not so famous boyfriend. Only in Aus,’ wrote another user.
‘Stop showing nathan cleary, mary fowler is a star on her own and in her own right. Let her have her moment without showing his face. Who she is dating should have nothing to do with this game,’ commented another.
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson selected Fowler in his starting lineup for tonight’s game against Taiwan and broadcaster Channel 10 had the perfect opportunity to ask the Man City star about her blossoming romance before the game.
The superstar couple went public with their romance on Wednesday afternoon
Fowler and Cleary were picture laying in a Perth park together and soaking up the sun
But instead, she was asked about her run of form with City, her new role on the wing and the strong support for the Matildas in Perth.
‘To see the amount of people coming out to support us has been incredible and they have been super loud so it has been a great trip and I think all of us will remember that,’ she said.
Fowler was asked about her new romance by Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday morning, but said: ‘Sorry, I just want to get back to my hotel.’
Many fans were left questioning the scheduling of the qualifiers in Perth, with two of the three matches not kicking off until 10pm on the east coast of Australia.
It meant that the games against Iran and Chinese Taipei were not finishing up until midnight, annoying parents of kids who have to go to school the next day.
Matildas fans were annoyed at the scheduling of the match which meant that Aussie east coast viewers had to stay up until midnight to see the end of the game
Broadcaster Neil Breen took to social media to vent his frustrations about the scheduling.
‘What d***head thought the Matildas should play at 7pm Perth time (10pm AEDT) on a school night?’ he wrote on X.
‘It should have at least started at 6 in Perth which is 9 here. You can’t [win] the battle for a new generation when they’re asleep… Same as league games starting after 8 to suit Channel 9 – 7.40 should be mandatory start time.’
A Matildas fan replied: ‘My daughter is obsessed, watched every game for the last four years, now it’s a 10pm and school tomorrow. Ridiculous!’
