How a Twitter exchange between a politician and a black English player sparked conversations about racial messaging and the role of footballers in activism.
A country divided, reunited, then divided again.
In May 2020, a video went viral of a police officer in the USA killing an unarmed black man named George Floyd by kneeling on his neck. The murder sparked outrage across the world and was the beginning of the “Black Lives Matter” campaign, which saw millions of people take to the streets to protest police brutality and racism. The phrase “Shut up and dribble” comes from a quote by a FOX News presenter after professional basketballer LeBron James spoke out about social injustice in America and has become a tagline of criticism for athletes taking similar stands. In the UK, the “BLM” movement quickly saw the conversation highlight rampant racism in football, with minority ethnic fans, players and managers sharing their experiences with racism and frustrations with the way it was being dealt with. These were tense times. Coming out of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the country felt more divided than at any point in recent memory, and in many ways, the return of professional football, including the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, felt like a lifeline for unity in the nation.
This led to the Premier League adopting a new “No Room for Racism” attitude, which saw players taking a knee before the start of matches as a symbol of commitment towards racial equality. A symbol that the England Men’s team elected to maintain throughout the Euros, this was not the most popular of choices. Many England fans found taking the knee to be frustrating, as they felt politics should be kept out of football. As a result of this, fans began to boo the players as they knelt, a stark reminder of how far we still had to go to end racism. This was further exemplified after the tournament, when black England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho received an onslaught of online racist abuse after missing three crucial penalties, which led to England losing the final at Wembley.
A summer that had been littered with elation and hope, spearheaded by a team that refused to be silent about social issues had ended in the worst possible way; England had fallen at the final hurdle, and racism felt still far too prominent in our society.
A Priti big mess
During Euro 2020, the conversation around players taking the knee broadened into the mainstream media, with politicians being asked their opinion. In an interview with GB News, then Home Secretary Priti Patel labelled the act as “gesture politics” as well as saying she thought fans had the right to boo if they wanted. At the time of the comments, the England camp didn’t react, opting to focus on football. However, after the final another government minister was caught in a WhatsApp group suggesting that Marcus Rashford should spend more time training and less time “playing politics”. These two comments shifted the conversation; pundits and political commentators began discussing the roles that the comments politicians made had on the general rhetoric and language of race. Figures such as Gary Neville criticised Patel and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson for allowing the kind of racism the players were facing to breed in our society.
After a successful sporting event, it is normal for an English team to visit 10 Downing Street, the house of the Prime Minister, to be formally congratulated by the PM. In 2021, the England team declined this invitation due to the comments made by members of the government. After this, in an attempt to curry favour with the public, Priti Patel tweeted, calling the abuse the players had received “vile” and saying she “back[ed] the police to hold those responsible accountable”. This is when England and Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings broke the players’ silence.
Mings, a black player who had been subjected to racist chanting during an England qualifier against Bulgaria in 2019, replied to the Home Secretary. Accusing her of “stoke[ing] the fire” of racism and calling her disgust “pretend”. This response garnered massive support from the wider football community, with pundits and fans praising Mings for his bravery. Looking back, it is clear to see that this exchange was a turning point in football and society; Mings’ bravery opened the door for other players to stand up for what they believe in and call out politicians and governments without the fear of backlash.
Lasting impact and future implications
The current footballing landscape is one where, thankfully, many players feel more comfortable standing up for what they believe in. Since 2021, Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has been vocal in tackling racist chanting in Spanish football, Wilfred Zaha has spoken openly about the racism he faced when coming through the English academy system, and clubs have stood by players who bravely stand up for their beliefs rather than punishing them. So what can this mean for the future of football and discrimination?
Well, as the 2026 World Cup looms, many people have commented on the risk to South American and Hispanic fans travelling in the USA. With the US Immigration force “ICE” taking a bullish approach whereby members of the public are arrested, often based on skin colour, and held for weeks before being released; many fans are apprehensive about travelling to the tournament. This conversation has led to people calling on players and footballing associations to speak out against ICE. As they feel that the world’s biggest stars speaking out will be the only thing that ensures fans’ safety. Another interesting aspect of this debate is risk. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The real test of a moral society is what it does when it is afraid”. It can be argued that if footballers are willing to stand up to dangerous governments when the risk is minimal, then they should stand up in situations where the threats are more significant, such as being excluded from the tournament, to really show that these issues are more important than football.
The truth of the matter is, in a world where players are becoming ambassadors for police states, and the president of FIFA is handing out a “peace prize” to a leader who sanctions the murder and abduction of single mothers; it feels harsh to look upon athletes to fight against corrupt political institutions. However, if the lessons of Mings, Rashford, Anderson and Vinicius can teach us anything, it’s that often those we look up to most in society can be the biggest catalysts for change.
Thinking Points:
- How much responsibility should be put on athletes to speak out, if they know that their voice and opinions carry weight?
- Should players in 2026 be willing to boycott the World Cup in order to not endorse the actions of the US government?
- How can the football community make it easier for players to stand up for issues that are important to them?
Find Out More:
Read “Kicking Off Around the World” by Ramon Usall to find more stories like this.
You can see more about the struggle athletes face when speaking out by watching “Shut Up and Dribble” on SHOWTIME.
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