KYRA CARUSA insists she and her peers should not stay silent just because Fifa are not listening to them.
The Ireland striker joined 132 fellow players last October in writing to the world governing body, questioning their commercial deal with Saudi Arabian state oil company Aramco.
They called the deal “a middle finger to women’s football”, citing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and treatment of women.
But Fifa have yet to respond five months on from the letter being sent.
And the California-born star said: “I still think it was important when it came out. Just because you want to put women’s players on a pedestal doesn’t take over the fact of what is being pushed . . . the fact that women aren’t necessarily a priority.
“I don’t think that it gets to band aid, leverage or mask the fact that there are such deep issues.”
The lack of a response could be disheartening but Carusa believes that writing the letter was, and remains, worthwhile.
She added: “I think of any major changes and civil rights movements and whatnot, massive protests . . .
“There will always be the idea that there were those who were silenced.
“There were those that came before us who weren’t recognised but that doesn’t mean that you don’t do it.”
And the San Diego Wave ace would not rule out escalating their objection when asked if she would consider making an armband protest at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Carusa said: “It’s definitely a bridge to cross and a discussion to have as a team and individuals if we were to get to that point.
“It’s something that I would discuss with my team and heavily push for.”
But Ireland need to get there first.
And the next part of their preparation for it comes on Friday when the Girls in Green take on Greece in the Nations League before a return meeting at Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday.
New boss Carla Ward — who replaced Eileen Gleeson after Ireland missed out on Euro 2025 — has had a tough start with a 1-0 win over Turkey followed by a 4-0 loss to Slovenia.
And it was a tricky week for striker Carusa too who scored the winner against the Turks before being moved to a right-wing role against Slovenia.
But Carusa believes it is all part of the process and it will stand to Ireland in future.
The forward said: “I think it makes sense to exercise all of those opportunities and look at players. I don’t think I’m going to be the only one who is going to be looked at in other positions.
“I think it is necessary. Any coach would look at the players, experience and talent we have to find a formula.
“You’re trying to find the formula that works best.
“We as players all show up from different clubs from all over the world and we spend, which is literally, minutes in comparison to what we spend with our club teams.
“You’re trying to basically qualify and do the craziest things with the minuscule time you have together.
“I get that’s what Carla is trying to do.”
