Following England’s Euro 2022 triumph, Alex Scott called out Premier League clubs who rejected the opportunity to host matches for the tournament back in 2018.

Scott, the Arsenal legend who represented England 140 times during her illustrious career, said she would no longer ‘beg’ potential sponsors to get involved in the women’s game after England won their first major women’s football trophy.

The Lionesses, cheered on by a record crowd of 87,192 people inside Wembley and the rest of the nation, defeated Germany after extra-time.

Ella Toone broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute before Lina Magull’s equaliser set up a nervy finale.

But substitute Chloe Kelly netted one of the biggest goals in English football history, 56 years after England’s men defeated West Germany in the 1966 World Cup final.

England win Euro 2022

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Players of England celebrates with the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 Trophy as they pose for a group photograph in front of the media after the final whistle of the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on July 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)

Alex Scott's powerful message after England's Euro 2022 win

After the match, Scott - who has become one of the UK’s most popular pundits after hanging up her boots - sent a powerful message to those Premier League clubs and individuals responsible for rejecting the opportunity to host Euro 2022 matches in their stadiums.

Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium, Brighton’s Falmer Stadium and Brentford’s Community Stadium were the only four Premier League grounds to host Euro 2022 games this summer.

A handful of matches were even played at Manchester City’s 7,000-capacity Academy Stadium - a situation described as “disrespectful” by Iceland international Sara Bjork Gunnarsdotti in April.

“I’m a little bit disappointed with some of the stadiums that we got. It’s shocking,” she told Their Pitch podcast, per The Guardian. “You’re playing in England, you have so many stadiums, and we have a training ground from City. It’s just embarrassing. Women’s football today, they’re filling out the stadiums. If you see Barcelona against Real Madrid, we have 95,000 [official attendance was 91,533] watching the game.

“They are not prepared for that, that we will sell more tickets than 4,000. It’s disrespectful towards women’s football at this stage because it’s so much bigger than people think. But there will be games in big stadiums and I’m pretty sure they’re going to be sold out.”

England fans at Wembley

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: England fans cheer as they celebrate the 2-1 win during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on July 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

What did Alex Scott say after England's Euro 2022 victory?

And as England’s women celebrated becoming champions of Europe, Scott said live on BBC One: “Let’s just remind as well, back in 2018 we were begging people [Premier League clubs] to host games in their stadiums for these Euros and so many said no. I hope you’re all looking at yourselves right now because you weren’t brave enough to see the vision.”

Host Gabby Logan said: “A lot of people made the comments during the tournament, didn’t they? ‘Why aren’t there bigger stadiums?’ And it all goes back to 2018. Then in 2019 there was a very successful World Cup in France and I think a lot of those clubs thought then: ‘We’ve made a mistake’. And today… they’ve definitely made a mistake.”

Scott added: “I had a conversation yesterday. I’m not standing up at corporate events in front of sponsors anymore begging for them to get involved in the women’s game because you know what? If you’re not involved, you’ve missed the boat, you’ve missed the train. Because look at this… it has finally left the station and it is gathering speed.”

Watch Scott’s powerful message here:

Well said, Alex!