Racism in Football

by Haleigh Smith

On Monday 14th October 2019, England faced Bulgaria at Vasil Levski Stadium for the Euro 2020 Qualifiers. Despite England’s 6-0 victory over Bulgaria the stadium was filled with shameful scenes of racism against many of England’s players including Raheem Sterling and Tyrone Mings. 

In a fight against racism, UEFA have instigated and approved official guidelines to help match officials handle incidents of racism and abuse inside football stadium at the 2009 Executive Committee meeting in Lithuania.

The three-step procedure allows the referee to initially halt and in the worst case scenario abandon the match. However, before such actions are taken the referee, when they first become aware of racist behaviour, or, if informed by another official or manager he will stop the game and ask for an announcement to be made to the audience, requesting them to immediately stop their racist behaviour. If the racism continues, the referee will then suspend the match for a certain amount of time, for example five to ten minutes and request that both teams return to their dressing rooms followed by a second announcement over the speakers. It is then that, if the racism continues, the referee can abandon the match. The decision to abandon the match will only be taken into account if other factors, such as the safety of players and the public, have been assessed and deemed unsafe.

On 14th October, there were some horrific scenes in the crowd of Vasil Levski Stadium. However, it was not the first, with incidents against Kosovo and the Czech Republic in June. People doing the Nazi salute, holding racist banners and shouting racist slurs towards the black England players was broadcast on international television for all to see. However the England fans fought back, filling the charged atmosphere with chants of encouragement for the England players including the fan favourite “Raheem Sterling, he’s one of our own!”.

Despite this sad and aggressive atmosphere from the home fans the England players carried on, netting a total of 6 goals in the 90 minute game: one by Marcus Rashford, another by Ross Barkley, two by Raheem Sterling and a final goal by England Captain and striker, Harry Kane. England manager, Gareth Southgate, praised the football officials for following the UEFA protocol and said that despite the shameful scenes of racism, it brought the England team closer together, allowing them to play with greater unity and support. Southgate hoped to draw a line under the game's racism so that his players could focus on football.

It is truly saddening that in the 21st century, a time of technological advances and development and ever-growing diversity that an issue such as racism should still exist, something that should have been left in the 19th and 20th century as a part of history. Football players, fans and people in general should not have to worry about racism now and should be able to celebrate their uniqueness and diversity with pride and happiness. No one should be left saddened or hurt by the topic of racism and it was England’s calm and professional response to such events that granted them praise throughout the nation by fans at home.

However it was not just the events of England’s game against Bulgaria that showed racism and a fight against it: Italian footballer Mario Balotelli has also come into contact with racist comments by his Brescia chairman and clearly enough was enough when he walked off the pitch after being racially abused by Verona fans. Crystal Palace and Ivory Coast winger Wilfried Zaha has even stated that “I’m called a monkey or a n***** nearly every game” and as a result has been given a life coach in order to cope with such comments - when he shouldn’t have to.

There are so many other examples of racism in football and many other sports across the globe and such things should be stopped and those being racist should be punished in the correct manner. In the 21st century there is simply no place for racism or discrimination or any kind. The 21st century should be a time of racial celebration and pride throughout the world.