Marco Aurelio Cunha Credits Shorter Shorts for Growth in Women's Football

Marco Aurelio Cunha doesn't quite carry the same recognition that Sepp Blatter does, but some quotes from the coordinator for the women's game for the Confederation of Brazilian football are making similar Blatter-like waves—and not for good reasons. 

Blatter, of course, famously said that women should "have tighter shorts" to improve the game. 

Cunha delivered a similar head-shaking quote in the aftermath of Marta's 15th World Cup goal, making the Brazilian striker the all-time leader in that category. Marta's feat was hardly celebrated, if even mentioned in the Brazilian media.

He explained that the women's game is, in fact, growing in Brazil but credited the growth with nothing that had anything to do with the actual quality on the pitch.

His quotes, per Stephanie Nolen of the Globe and Mail, are sure to raise a few eyebrows.

"

Now the women are getting more beautiful, putting on make-up. 

They go in the field in an elegant manner. Women's football used to copy men's football. 

Even the jersey model, it was more masculine. We used to dress the girls as boys, so the team lacked a spirit of elegance, femininity. 

Now the shorts are a bit shorter, the hair styles are more done up. 

It's not a woman dressed as a man. 

"

[Globe and Mail]