There have been numerous individual incidents of racism towards black footballers in the 21st century, highlighting the ongoing problem of racial discrimination in the sport. Here are just a few examples:
- In 2020, Manchester City footballer Raheem Sterling was subjected to racial abuse by a Chelsea fan during a Premier League match. The incident sparked outrage and led to the arrest and banning of the fan responsible.
- In 2019, Inter Milan footballer Romelu Lukaku was subjected to monkey noises and racist chanting by Cagliari fans during a Serie A match. The incident led to widespread condemnation and resulted in a partial stadium ban for Cagliari.
- In 2018, Paris Saint-Germain footballer Neymar was accused of making racist remarks towards Marseille defender Alvaro Gonzalez during a Ligue 1 match. The incident led to a five-match ban for Neymar and sparked debates about racism in French football.
- In 2017, England national team footballer Danny Rose spoke out about the racial abuse he had faced during his career, including being subjected to monkey noises and having bananas thrown at him.
- In 2016, England national team footballer Eni Aluko accused the team’s former manager, Mark Sampson, of making racist remarks towards her. The incident led to an investigation and the eventual sacking of Sampson.
Racism in football, in some countries, has been a long-standing issue in the sport. Despite efforts by governing bodies and organizations to eradicate it, incidents of racial abuse continue to occur in the 21st century. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most notable instances of racism in football since the year 2000.
- John Terry and Anton Ferdinand (2011)
- In 2011, Chelsea captain John Terry was accused of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand during a Premier League match. Terry was found guilty of the charges by the English Football Association and banned for four games and fined.
- Luis Suárez and Patrice Evra (2011)
- In 2011, Liverpool striker Luis Suárez was found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra during a Premier League match. Suárez was banned for eight games and fined.
- Monkey chants at black players (various incidents)
- Over the years, several black footballers have been subjected to monkey chants and racist abuse from fans in various countries including England, Italy, and Spain. Some of the players who have faced this abuse include Dani Alves, Mario Balotelli, and Romelu Lukaku.
- Yaya Touré and CSKA Moscow fans (2013)
- In 2013, Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré was subjected to racist abuse by CSKA Moscow fans during a Champions League match. CSKA Moscow was later fined by UEFA for the incident.
- Monkey gestures at Kevin-Prince Boateng (2013)
- In 2013, AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng walked off the field in protest after being subjected to racist abuse from fans during a friendly match against Pro Patria. The incident sparked a global conversation about racism in football.
- Raheem Sterling and Chelsea fans (2018)
- In 2018, Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling was subjected to racist abuse from Chelsea fans during a Premier League match. The incident led to widespread condemnation and calls for stronger action to be taken against racism in football.
- Racism in Russian football (various incidents)
- In recent years, Russian football has been marred by several incidents of racist abuse, including monkey chants directed at black players and neo-Nazi banners displayed by fans. The issue has led to calls for stronger action to be taken to combat racism in Russian football.
These are just a few of the many incidents of racism in football since 2000. While efforts have been made to address the issue, it remains a problem in the sport. It is the responsibility of governing bodies, clubs, players, and fans to work together to eradicate racism from the game.
