Players are doing their bit... it’s now time for others to follow their lead
JUST hours after the fantastic show of unity between the players at Sunday’s Old Firm match, I read that Police Scotland were investigating an alleged racist video targeting Alfredo Morelos.
It was a depressing way to underline the point made by James Tavernier when he spoke to Sky Sports before the match.
The Rangers captain explained why they had decided to stand rather than take the knee at kick-off. He made it clear their action was about more than what happened to Glen Kamara in the match against Slavia Prague last Thursday night, as horrible as that incident was.
Tavernier said he felt confident that every black player at Rangers had received racial abuse through social media this season. Just think about that for a second. Every single black player in that dressing room has been confronted by this disgusting behaviour when they have switched on their phone or their laptop.
It’s an appalling state of affairs. But the sad truth is that I imagine you would get a similar answer from many other teams in Scotland and much further beyond.
We have already seen what’s happened in England this season. Marcus Rashford is among a number of black footballers who have spoken about online racial abuse and demanded that social media companies take more action to stop it.
Now Tavernier and the Rangers players are saying the same. The Celtic players stood shoulder to shoulder with them and it was wonderful to see.
Other clubs in Scotland have made their own stand. They have released statements expressing support for Kamara and denouncing racism in all its forms.
That unity within the game has been so heartening. It’s like Scottish football is speaking out with one voice. And it’s time — long overdue, in fact — that the big social media companies listened. For too long, these platforms have looked the other way. But we have reached a level now where something has to be done.
I fully support the demands being made by the footballers — the people — who have been subjected to this disgusting abuse. We all should. The current situation is not healthy for society, never mind football.
Whether it has to be governments who ultimately drive change, I don’t know. But these companies need to take heed.
It will be very interesting to see what they do about it — and what they want to do about it. The action taken so far clearly isn’t anywhere near enough.
Rashford has suggested that accounts should be deleted immediately if they contain abuse. Tavernier has spoken about making it easier to trace the identities of people who hide behind anonymity.
But let’s be clear, it’s not down to them to find the solution. It’s down to the platforms to be
tougher in their responses to racism and other horrible abuse.
right now, there is a lot of discussion in Denmark about hate messages on social media. Some newspapers have closed down the comments beneath online articles because there is so much hatred expressed there.
it’s not just football or sport. We have our version of The X Factor and some of the contestants — kids who are 16 or 17 years old — have been the victims of brutal abuse. even the Prime Minister in Denmark has had to come out and say something about it.
it will take leadership to make change. leadership at ueFa in terms of european football, leadership in governments, and leadership within the social media companies themselves. Time will tell.
For now, we can only praise the leadership we have seen from some within the Scottish game.
Steven gerrard is one such figure. i’m not sure you could imagine a more emotional scene in football than the way he comforted Kamara after full-time in the match against Slavia Prague.
it was a very human reaction. One of a real leader. it always comes across to me that gerrard is much more than just a football man.
He acted like a role model in the way he dealt with the situation, delivering such strong support for Kamara in his media conference and putting the welfare of his player first.
No one in football — or any walk of life — deserves to be made to feel how Kamara clearly felt last Thursday night. as he indicated in the statement he released on Friday, i hope having a leader like gerrard standing by him so strongly was a help in such a difficult circumstance.
We all love football and the emotion it creates. But there is a lot of things in life more important than the game. respect between people is one of them. and gerrard showed that.
The same should absolutely be said for Scott Brown. it was fantastic to see him walk into the rangers half and put his arm around Kamara during the warm-up before Sunday’s match. What a superb gesture of solidarity.
We talk about rivalries and sometimes use the word ‘hatred’ when we discuss the Old Firm. This issue of racism is something that transcends any footballing rivalry. Of course it does.
Brown’s actions showed real class. More than that, it showed real humanity. To me, that is the most important thing above anything else and i salute him. What the Celtic captain did will be remembered.
There was also a powerful message sent when all the players and staff stood together. That united front seems so important when you are fighting to try and achieve change.
i hope the weekend marks the beginning of a process that really makes a difference. Those who play the game are doing their part. it’s now time for others to follow that lead.
Some things are more important than football. And respect is one of them