With last year’s Champions league final attracting over 300 million viewers, the power of football as an entity should be indisputable, writes Remi Salisbury.
Though it can be argued that the historical, geographical and economic landscape of society can be understood through an exploration of racial divisions, one would hope that in this ‘enlightened’ stage of social development the strive to reach an egalitarian state would be near. It is not.
Football has the potential to positively influence social, economic and political action, however the sport seems riddled with controversy and disrepute.
Alex Ferguson’s (excuse the omission of his knightly title) outspoken, absurd and autocratic condemnation of Rio Ferdinand’s ‘kick it out’ boycott is just another disappointment in a series of mishandled racial controversies in the sport.
To label the situation “embarrassing” shows how deeply out of touch some high profile members of the footballing world are. Ferguson would do well to realise there are greater struggles beyond Manchester United’s title challenge. If Ferdinand and others wants to express their disgruntlement at the lack of FA action on issues of race, then they, as individuals, as ethnic minority players, as social agents, should be able to do so.
Only last season, ‘King’ Kenny’s unrelenting defence of Luis Suárez, amidst allegations of racism, appalled racial activists and the footballing world alike. The unprofessionalism and declarative nature of Kenny and Liverpool FC’s defence was not only disgraceful but offensive.
While I wouldn’t expect the club to immediately condemn their own player, I would expect at least a non-comment or an acceptance of investigations.
To wear supportive T-shirts for the player (before proven guilty or not) should not have been allowed. It’s only a shame the Liverpool team didn’t have a Rio Ferdinand, Joleon Lescott or Jason Roberts within.
Football, should, and perhaps is, a microcosm for society at large. This microcosm however, must be controlled and used positively. At current, this is far from the case.
Rather than leading the way and showing our nation’s children a strong and united front against racism, the footballing powers see it more fitting to upkeep the capitalist directives of political powers (Nicklas Bendtner was fined £80,000 and faced a match ban after revealing sponsored underwear).
After this week in football, I would applaud the affront to lack of FA action from several premiership players.
I find it unbelievable that Alex Ferguson and Manchester United can allude to fining a player for not wearing a warm-up t-shirt, further, it is deeply wrong that the club would attempt to control and restrict a player’s views in this way.
As attempts are being made throughout the modern world to stop racism, the FA must act rapidly and robustly to discipline the Serbian Football Association, a (proportionate) precedent must be set and the racist scenes at the Serbia v England under 21’s game this week must be addressed accordingly, not just for the fight against racism, but for football as a credible sport.