Jess Carter Chelsea

bodies need to make it mandatory to learn about racism as a collective at the onset of a season, so that there is no excuse for ignorance.

While racism in men’s football has been highly visible for decades, in the women’s game it is an issue that tends to lie in the shadows. Lack of representation across players, coaches and administration, and a radically lower media profile with very few televised games, adds to this dynamic.

To date only two cases have been publicised in the English game: Eniola Aluko calling out former England manager Mark Sampson for racist remarks, and former Tottenham player Renee Hector’s experience of abuse on the pitch. But behind the scenes there are worrying tropes at play. Telegraph

Sport was recently made aware of a group chat at a women’s football club where white players voiced anger around Black Lives Matter, claiming that it took the focus away from the growth of women’s football. Frustration could be sensed from the black players who had to validate their feelings and experience to their team members who, in turn, simply refused to acknowledge their pain.

“No one is saying that all lives don’t matter,” says 19-year-old Salmon. “But right now it’s the black community that is suffering, we need to focus on that.”

Her points are echoed by Carter, who passionately adds: “You almost can’t not support, you can’t not change things, you can’t not donate money to help black people, you can’t not put up a sign saying BLM. It’s so blatantly obvious that some of these changes have to happen.”

Obvious to some, oblivious to others. Despite this, these three players are keen to change the narrative around black players in women’s football and encourage young black girls to pursue a path into the sport.

When asked if they feel responsible as athletes to use their platform to speak out on Black Lives Matter, the overwhelming agreement is yes.