Kick Racism out of Football

By Olivia H.

Racism is prominent in the athletic world. Many fans will do anything to show pride in their country, even through racist actions . George Orwell explains how fans use boos and insults to make sure one side is “humiliated,” (23). Claudia Rankine explains how these players are supposed to be “good” during racist attacks and humiliation (25). These players are held to higher standards than white athletes and face more scrutiny. Many believe racism in sports reflects racism in society. In 2018, a scandal broke out surrounding the Windrush generation in England and Socialist Lawyer, a legal organization in the UK, explains that the “anti-immigration” rhetoric and discriminatory aspects of the “1971 Immigration Act,” were exposed (Socialist Lawyer 2). These people face discrimination yet are considered valuable to society, like Black footballers in the Premier League. Jonathan Liew, sports writer for The Guardian, shows arrests for racist chanting increased by 150% in 2020 (2). Naz Ali, Course Leader in Sports Management, states 43% of footballers faced racial abuse on Twitter last July (3). What is the most effective way to address racism towards Black footballers in the Premier League? To understand the complexity of this topic, it is important to look at it from a historical lens, the view of commentators and fans, and the view of Black players. Through exploration it will become clear that the organization Kick It Out is most effective because it tackles social media issues, addresses legal issues, and solves performative activism.

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