A Toronto sports columnist may be considering going underground in Edmonton after he published a rant slamming the Alberta city for hosting the Women’s World Cup.
Globe and Mail columnist Cathal Kelly is currently in Edmonton covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015. (@cathalkelly/Twitter)
Globe and Mail columnist Cathal Kelly published his diatribe on Thursday. In it, he calls Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium “actively ugly,” comparing it to a high school field complete with “bush league” track. He also disparages the city’s apparent enthusiasm for hosting the games, noting that tickets have not yet sold out.
His message is clear: the World Cup should be in Toronto.
“The world is going to tune in on Saturday expecting Toronto because that’s the city that matters. It may hurt to hear it, but it doesn’t make it less true,” he writes.
“Edmonton, God love you. In some ways you are the romantic home of soccer in Canada. But when the whole country has to stand up in front of the rest of the world, you can’t be the first one talking. We just need you to stand there quietly, looking supportive.”
It’s clear Kelly knew his comments would trigger a social media firestorm:
I wrote about Edmonton for tmrw. Two separate editors have now written to warn I will have to flee the city after it’s published. Wheeee!
— @cathalkelly
Edmonton’s mayor himself took to Twitter Thursday night to respond:
It’s either self-deprecating satire or a case of newfound T.O. insecurity. It’s hard to tell. Either way, who cares? https://t.co/ubemMYCscg
— @doniveson
