‘Maybe we are alone’: Jude Bellingham questions whether authorities ‘care’ about racist abuse directed at Black footballers
‘People don’t want to talk about this because they don’t want to make an issue of it,’ said Bellingham, who was once accused of racially abusing three British footballers as a result of the game
In recent years, a variety of incidents have been recorded in which former professionals, including former Manchester United, West Ham United, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool stars, are alleged to have targeted Black footballers.
For instance, former England midfielder Paul Gascoigne was convicted last year for racially abusing a Black Leeds United footballer and a youth team player, before being cleared as part of a plea agreement that saw him spared a prison sentence.
Similarly, former Blackburn Rovers striker Ian Wright was banned from football after a racially-aggravated incident involving a Black Tottenham Hotspur player. A court was told: ‘In the presence of a Black member of the public and of another Black footballer, Mr Wright approached the Tottenham player and asked how the Black player had performed on a particular day.
‘He put his hands on the Tottenham player and, without warning, pushed him down and back-handed him’
The Tottenham player who was racially abused by Wright, the former Blackburn Rovers striker, was left with’multiple injuries, including a broken nose, four black eye’s and a black eye’ after the attack
Black players at Liverpool were racially abused by the club’s fans during an away match in 2006. In an interview with a newspaper, ex-Liverpool striker Graeme Souness was arrested and charged with racial abuse after he allegedly said: ‘What you boys have done is what you deserve’
The Football Association, which has not prosecuted anyone for racial abuse, recently warned the public that ‘the use of racist language can be a criminal offence’. The FA said: ‘We understand there can be instances in which a person is accused and, while we acknowledge that many such allegations are wholly and completely unfounded, it is possible that some individuals will decide to make a complaint.’
In recent years, a variety of incidents have been recorded in which former professionals, including former Manchester United, West Ham United, Arsenal, Bolton Wanderers and Liverpool stars, are alleged to have targeted Black footballers.
For instance,
