Why in a game of football (note the word game) do people have to use racist slurs to strike back at an opponent or to try and antagonise them? Why does the colour of an opponent’s skin, or his ethnic origin matter? Why would we use such terminology when we ALL know it is wrong? Why would we demean ourselves and sully the reputation of our clubs by self-attaching the label of racist? Why would we want to get so angry that we lose self-control to such an extent that we use the most hateful language possible as a cheap release of that pent up anger?
Football unites communities. Middle class players stand alongside working class players. Players with physical impairments stand alongside those with other impairments. In mini soccer, boys stand alongside girls. Gay players stand alongside straight players. Black players stand proudly alongside white players. Football is inclusive. Football does not see differences. Yet we have a small minority of participants in the supposedly beautiful game who are prepared to highlight such differences in a hateful manner simply to strike back at some perceived injustice.
Lancashire FA will work tirelessly towards the elimination of racism in football. We will stand alongside partner agencies who seek to rid the game of this insidious practice. We will offer education to those who fail to understand the implications of racism. But we also use all of the powers at our disposal to rid the game of this blight through punitive disciplinary sanctions. Racism scars our game. It sours relations between players and clubs for years. Racism will never be solved simply by a handshake. Please work with us proactively in our fight to rid the game of football of racism once and for all. Let’s be unashamedly inclusive in our clubs and in our policies and practices.
One day football will be freed from the shackles of racism and our football pitches will be places where players of all ages, traditions, orientation, and creeds, and both genders, can enjoy football without the spectre of their individuality being used as a weapon with which to hurt them. It has to happen. Let’s make it happen.