Reminder: football is not just about trophies. It’s about family, community and unity

Words Sarah Adama

Credit: Harry Kane

The England team have secured a victory. Like many others, I believe it has never been easier to support an England team. Gareth Southgate’s team is multidimensional and representative of the England we want to live in. It’s northern, it’s Southern, young, experienced, black, white, mixed. The team has given us far more than any trophy. Being reminded of leadership and community, is a well needed breath of fresh air.

On and off the pitch, they have promoted equality, challenged racism quite literally fed children. They provided hope at a time of dampened spirits following the challenges of the last few months. Even non-football fans gave their heart to the game not because of other fans, but simply because of what the team represents. I mean, football won some fans from Marcus Rashford’s campaign to make sure no children went hungry during the lockdown.

The squad are the national heroes. They are pioneering an inclusive football and an inclusive nation, exhibiting strength and leadership and their impact is testament to this.

Yet, black players Bukayo Saka (19), Jadon Sancho (21) and Marcus Rashford (23) have been subjected to waves of abuse online following the final last night. Shortly after losing the penalty, a mural housing Rashford was vandalised with graffiti. The footballers Instagram and Twitter comments were piled with vicious, hateful comments especially towards 19 year old Saka.

Racism in football isn’t new, but I guess it was simply too much to expect that the few would praise the team that got us so far in the tournament, rather than hijack the moment.

I dare to say that our government has done little to clamp down on racism and xenophobia, years of denial and stirring has enabled such hate to thrive in our environment. This is only the latest event to expose the fragments in our society. A few weeks ago the Home Secretary said it was fine for English fans to boo the team for taking the knee against racism. Yet today, she condemns that very same thing.

Many have been affected by the results of last night’s final. Some already feared for their lives being out in public, others have reported facing racial abuse at work and at school, whilst parents are reluctant to send their children to school for a few days.

For those that previously insisted that the U.K isn’t racist and is in fact the least racist in Europe (a report generated before Brexit), it is even harder to deny the stark reality that’s staring us right in our face.

For many of us, there is no victory at all if what these young men have done for the nation is swept away by hateful comments. In fact, it is only a statement that the country has failed.

From the Conservative MP suggesting that Marcus Rashford should have spent more time “perfecting his game” rather than “playing politics” to the football fan that believes he can commit violent acts against another fan because of his skin colour or nationality.

It is evident that football is literally political. It is so deeply intertwined with politics, a longstanding culture of overt racism in the 1970s and 80s, the growth of hooliganism and now endless online abuse. Footballers are members of society like everybody else and are simply affected by the politics of society. The players and officials taking the knee before every match has shown the power of football as a political force and has been key in reinforcing togetherness during the UEFA tournament.

Across the globe, people are expressing their love and support. The FA, the governing body for football in England, released this statement: