Alisha Lehmann targeted by 'creepy sign' shown on TV during Women's World Cup

 Fans have blasted the screentime that a man was given after a camera panned to him holding up a 'creepy' sign asking Alisha Lehmann to sign his body.

Fans have blasted coverage that a man was given after he held up a ‘creepy’ sign asking Alisha Lehmann to sign his body.

The 24-year-old appeared as a 71st minute substitute for Switzerland during their goalless draw against co-hosts New Zealand on Sunday.

But one man’s sign that read, “Alisha Lehmann sign my belly so I can be seen on telley,” was shown on cameras during BBC's coverage and has drawn intense scrutiny from unimpressed fans on social media.

The main post on Twitter criticising the incident gained plenty of support and interaction, it read: "Media/Broadcasters: Please don't show creepy dudes with signs asking for Alisha Lehmann to "please sign their belly so they can be seen on telly".

"They are weird perverts and would think we're better than to promote them.

"It's bad enough promoting the pressurizing, entitled "Can I Have Your..." signs but promoting grown dudes asking a young woman to touch their bodies is a bit of a low."

	The sign was shown on BBC's coverage (Image: BBC)

Criticism was also aimed at commentator Jonathan Pearce for his reaction to Lehmann’s introduction, writing: “Jonathan Pearce really not helping himself here, talking about Alisha Lehmann and Instagram followers.

“Just useless facts that’s nobody cares about, talk about the football, it’s the Women’s World Cup. If you’re going to mention Lehmann talk about her style of play.”

Lehmann is considered the biggest commercial star in women’s football with her the most followed player on Instagram with 14million.

She has previously spoken about her huge online following, saying: "I appreciate the support so much, it gives me strength on pitch.

"But I really don't think about it. I don't think that I'm better than anyone else, I come from humble beginnings with how I grew up with my family in Switzerland.

"I don't see myself as someone with loads of followers on social media, obviously I'm proud it - alongside my football - but it doesn't change anything."

But she remains keen to remind everyone she is a footballer, and her love of the sport takes precedence over everything else.

She said: "Some people just see Instagram and social media and don't even know I actually play football, when I don't post a football picture for a week, people say, 'Oh she doesn't even play'.

"I think sometimes it's a bit hard because obviously I train every day, like everyone else, I play every weekend and sometimes it's hard because they make a picture of you.

"I'm a proper footballer. I work hard every day. I want to be the best version of myself in football and that's my first priority in life."