Black History Month 2024

The fight against racism in English football

October is Black History Month in the UK, and this year’s theme is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’. By recognising the narratives of black culture and correcting misconceptions, Cheshire FA hopes to illuminate the contributions that black players, managers and staff have made to English football over the past 50 years and demonstrate why the fight against discrimination is still far from over…

Football fans of a certain age will know that a tremendous amount of effort has gone into combating racism and reclaiming narratives in the English game during recent decades. Clubs, their supporters and organisations like Kick It Out have worked tirelessly with the FA to stamp out discrimination in all its forms, and a great deal of progress has been made.

Unfortunately, the fight against racism is still far from over. Although we have come a long way, it is important to recognise that there is still extensive work to be done if we are to build a future in which football is truly for everyone.

In the following article, we explore some of the narratives surrounding black people’s contributions to English football, highlighting how the landscape has changed over the years and the ways in which prejudice has evolved.

Hate from the terraces and the anti-racism movement

In the 1970s and 1980s, it was all too common to witness overt racism and discrimination from the terraces – and sometimes on the pitch, too.

Black players such as Brendon Batson, Cyrille Regis and John Barnes were subject to appalling abuse, with bigoted spectators left largely unchallenged and unaccountable for their words and actions. The number of black players in the English game rose significantly during this period, but inclusion, respect and safety were rarely viewed as priorities.

Against this backdrop, the 1990s saw the emergence of organisations committed to eradicating racism and discrimination in English football. Clubs, fans and the FA began to address the problem of racism openly, leading to greater awareness and early attempts to drive systemic change.

Founded in 1993, Kick It Out laid the foundations for much-needed improvements, paving the way for other charities and campaigns, including Show Racism the Red Card, Enough Is Enough, and No Room For Racism. Designed to tackle discrimination both on and off the pitch, these organisations have been instrumental in fighting prejudice in English football.

Racism in the social media era

The 2000s and 2010s brought both progress and setbacks in the fight against discrimination. Although the advent of social media served to amplify the voices of anti-racism organisations and campaigners, it also provided a platform for racists to target players anonymously. The accessibility and anonymity offered by online platforms made it easier than ever for users to spread racist abuse, yet increasingly difficult for victims to receive justice.

High-profile footballers such as Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka and Marcus Rashford spoke out about the racist abuse they received through online channels and how it affected them. It soon became clear that the tactics employed in the fight against racism would need to evolve in order to overcome these new challenges.

In 2021, it was announced that people who racially abused footballers online would be banned from stadiums for up to ten years. Yet despite government intervention and tougher sanctions for perpetrators, footballers continue to receive abhorrent abuse on social media platforms. Not only does this highlight the importance of strong legislation, but it also highlights the need for enhanced content monitoring to ensure people are better protected and receive justice when abuse occurs.

Representation in football leadership

Although we have seen significant progress on the pitch, representation in football’s leadership is still lacking. The number of black managers, coaches, staff and executives in the English game is disproportionately low in comparison to the number of black players, pointing to structural inequalities. Here are some stats that illustrate the scale of this problem.

In 2023, Sam Allison became the second-ever black referee in the Premier League and the first to officiate a top-flight match since 2008.

Analysis shows that of 3,500 former footballers who played in the Premier League or Championship between 1990 and 2010, non-black players were 50% more likely to secure management positions. At the same time, black managers are 41% more likely to be fired than white managers, even when factors such as performance are equal.

Only 4.4% of managers in the top four English leagues were black as of 2022, despite black footballers accounting for 43% of players in the Premier League and 34% of those playing in the English Football League (EFL) in 2021. The Football Leadership Diversity Code, which was launched in 2020, aims to address this disparity, but progress to date has been slow.

Only 8.9% of players active in professional English football between 2004 and 2020 who progressed into club managerial or administrative roles usually taken by former players were black. What’s more, just 1.6% of executive and ownership roles in English football were held by black people in 2022.

Such statistics suggest that processes surrounding hiring and firing executives, coaches, staff and officials need to be examined and reformed to ensure everyone is afforded the same opportunities, regardless of their skin colour.

Our journey continues

Despite the sustained efforts of fans, anti-racism organisations, clubs and the FA – not to mention initiatives implemented by the Premier League and EFL – discrimination in English football persists in stadiums, online and across the systems that govern the game.

Kick It Out received 1,332 reports of discrimination in the 2023/24 season, a 32% year-on-year rise and the highest number in the organisation’s history. Racism remained the most common form of discrimination in English football during this period, with a 47% annual uptick in reports of racist abuse.

Unfortunately, the reality for many black people – both in sports and other walks of life – is that prejudice and discrimination never truly disappear. Instead, they evolve, which is why the fight against racism in English football represents an ongoing battle. Myriad cultural and structural issues must be addressed in order to drive meaningful improvements over the longer term. Of course, it is important to recognise and celebrate progress, but the need for enhanced vigilance, education and systemic change has never been greater.

Put simply, our journey is far from over.

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