The tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd has set off a wave of protests and support for anti-racism. Solidarity against racism has been decl
The tragic and unnecessary death of George Floyd has set off a wave of protests and support for anti-racism. Solidarity against racism has been declared by institutions and clubs around the world. Soccer is the global game and multiracial teams are common in leagues from youth to professional. We all benefit from interracial relationships made through the world’s most popular sport. For some time there has been an effort to take racist actions out of our game. It’s proven to be a difficult task as noted in this recent incident and there is still a long way to go. Many players, like Jadon Sancho have used their influence to speak out against racism supporting #BlackLivesMatter.
We are at what should be a monumental moment in history and our era. Now is the time (actually it’s way past due) to make systemic changes that will truly embrace people of all skin colors. Racism has been an issue for far too long and needs to be eradicated from the game and our world.
Let our game, the global game, really live up to its title as ‘the beautiful game’ by moving forward to have zero tolerance for racism at any level of our sport. We must first challenge ourselves on a deeper level than we have before and identify what that looks like for us personally. Then we can look at the institutions and clubs we support and help advocate for antiracism.
Questions to ask …
Can I give sacrificially to the causes supporting people of color? How do I stand up for those that are oppressed because of the color of their skin? Are the institutions and clubs I support, whether youth, amateur or professional, promoting anti-racism by more than a statement? Is it obvious that there is compassion and outreach toward those that have less opportunity at the club I support and how diverse is the leadership? These questions are a great place to start and then we can follow up with actions that support people of color. Now is the time and this is what is needed in the world and in our sport. A place to start is change.org. If you have resources, ideas or insights please leave them in the comments below. #BlackLivesMatter
