During the summer months, major sport tournaments are held in Europe and North America bringing the best athletes together to compete for huge money prizes. For example, Wimbledon tennis in England, cricket in Great Britain, rugby in France, basketball and soccer in North America. Behind these events athletes go through the painful exercise of staying fit and healthy, but also having to put up with slurs and discrimination based on race and gender. Behind the boardrooms, the sport gurus give the impression that all is well in the sporting world. The news conferences, the lofty sponsorship deals and the glossy pictures of athletes in magazines and commercial brochures paint a picture that hides a reality that is damaging. Here is a glimpse of that reality, which starts with a major report that was just published.
The report by the Independent Commission for Equity (ICEC), released a few days ago, is very disturbing. Following the shooting of George Floyd, an unarmed African American, in May 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement gained worldwide momentum, and a series of events were triggered to protest against the injustices and racism in general. Major sporting events such as soccer tournaments and basketball leagues joined in to raise awareness. Movements like Black Lives Matter drew attention to the extent of institutionalized racism that exists in countries which, like, seek to champion human rights and preach equality. What also surfaced was the degree of racism that prevails in sports.
Following the Black Lives Matter and the MeToo movements, countries liked England announced the setting up of an independent commission on cricket in March 2021, to investigate racism and sexism in cricket, one of the most popular sports in the country. The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) has delivered its findings from a two-year investigation, and it is very disturbing. Disturbing perhaps to some, but not alarming to many. Institutionalized racism is prevalent in countries like United States, France, England, Germany, to name a few. Racism is an historical fact. Racial slurs against African players have become quite common in soccer matches in countries like Spain and Belgium. Victims have voiced out the racial insanity, but it still continues.
The ICEC report is revealing and calls for some major reforms. While the report is on cricket, it is relevant and some of its findings apply to other sporting events. Briefly, this is what the report says: Racism, sexism, classism and elitism are “widespread” in English and Welsh cricket”. According to the BBC, the ICEC has made 44 recommendations, including that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) makes an unreserved public apology for its failings, and sums up the report as follows:
In a damning 317-page report called Holding Up A Mirror To Cricket, the ICEC concluded that:
“Structural and institutional racism” continues to exist within the game.
Women are treated as “subordinate” to men at all levels of the sport.
There is a prevalence of “elitism and class-based discrimination” in cricket.
Black cricket has been failed and the ECB must develop a plan to revive it.
Many who experience discrimination do not report it because of a distrust in the authorities.
Umpires regularly ignore abuse and dismiss complaints in both the professional and recreational games.
“There remains a stark reality that cricket is not a ‘game for everyone’ and it is absolutely essential that the work required to achieve that ambition must begin immediately,” wrote ICEC chair Cindy Butts.
Cricket culture is rotten
Ben Thompson, the Chair of the English Cricket Board reacted: “This report makes clear that historic structures and systems have failed to prevent discrimination and highlights the pain and exclusion this has caused. I am determined that this wake-up call for cricket in England and Wales should not be wasted. We will use this moment to demonstrate that it is a game for all and we have a duty to put this right for current and future generations.” According to the ICEC, English cricket is “institutionally racist”. Some claim that the cricket culture is rotten.
Cricket players like Rafiq, who played for Yorkshire in England, was one of the players to raise the alarm and openly stated that racism was destroying the game. Not enough non-white players were getting the opportunity to become professionals. From coaching staff to umpires, non-white players were facing slurs and abuses on a continuous basis, which were preventing them to grow and become professionals.
Racism in sports is not recent. When John Baxter won the first Olympic gold medal in 1908 at the Summer Olympics in London, he made history, but also raised the question of non-white participation in sports. He was the son of a slave; therefore, he was not deemed to be a sporting hero. Jesse Owens achieved international fame at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany, by winning four gold medals, namely, 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 × 100-meter relay. He was the most successful athlete at the Games and, as a black American man, he was not welcomed by the Nazi regime. He crushed the belief of Hitler’s myth of Aryan supremacy. Many in America tried to dissuade Jesse Owens from going to games and some even attempted to boycott him because he was an African American. Yet, Jesse Owens became a model athlete for others like Muhammad Ali, the heavyweight boxing champion to rise above the critics and challenge the structures of power.
In more recent times, the Williams sisters in tennis experienced many unwelcomed moments from fellow tennis players. When Tiger Woods became a professional golfer, he was seen as entering a predominantly “white sport”. Golf was not meant for African Americans. He faced harassment and was subjected to racial slurs. Lewis Hamilton is another person who broke the stereotype and won the Formula 1 championship.
In soccer, the situation is as bad as cricket. The French national soccer team which has several players of African descent, is an icon in France. When the team is doing well the players are heroes, but when a penalty is missed by any of the African players, the media reacts without pity. Players like Zidane, Benzema, Pogba, and others, have faced regular racial slurs on soccer pitches. Some players like Lukaku, who were constantly harassed when playing in Italy and Belgium, have suffered emotional problems. These players are not merely superstars, their talents are admired by fans all over the world. But their names and ancestry leave them vulnerable and the protection that they deserve is often lacking. Non-white players are greeted differently and treated differently according to ICEC report. In the locker rooms, they are subjected to abuse. Their talents are often dismissed.
“Stop racism now”
The world soccer governing body, FIFA, has attempted to address racism in the game. Several soccer national associations and federations have also spoken out against racism. They carry banners everywhere in an attempt to clean up the game. But these are merely dressings. The problem is not just going away by some token gestures and a few symbolic messages before the start of a game. The slogan “Stop Racism Now” is a window dressing.
Whether it’s soccer, basketball, volleyball or tennis, these sports are dominated by a management structure which is “mostly white”. The boardroom is very elitist, like the ICEC report claims. The structures where decisions are made rarely have non-whites in the boardroom. Policies are made that reflect the society. If the society is racist, it ends up in the boardroom. How many non-white coaches and owners are seen? Very few. While the non-white players like the French national soccer are bringing success, outside the stadium, in the streets of Paris, London or New York, non-whites are subjected to inhumane treatment. The story of George Floyd is a vivid reminder of where the problem lies.
In the coming days and weeks, the ICEC report will be debated. It has revived a problem that for many would simply not go away. To the victims of racism, this is just another report, highlighting a problem that has existed for decades. Tackling it requires a political commitment at the state level that goes to the root causes. If the desire is not there to address structural and institutional problems at all levels, the ICEC’s recommendations might not go very far. Despite the apology by the cricket authorities, the game will remain “institutionally racist”. That goes for the other sports. An apology sounds more insulting that being sympathetic to the cause. Non-white players have the skills, money and fame, but lack the power and authority to challenge the structures that produce racism. Muhammad Ali was perhaps an exception, but he showed that it could be done. Lewis Hamilton has his heart in the right place, and he has become an important advocate, but “white” athletes should also join in and support their team mates to fight racism that is poisoning the society. The fight against racism and sexism requires a collective effort.