As many of you know I am a huge supporter of the beautiful game and a lifelong Manchester United fan and, as a Muslim with Pakistani antecedents, I am a massive supporter of the English football team.
Yes, that’s right. There should be no class or racial discrimination in supporting one’s national team whether it be earlier this month at the Euro 2020 final or for the next two weeks supporting Team GB at the Tokyo Olympics.
That’s why I find it hard to see and hear the racist abuse directed at Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho. They went out to win for their country and they should be congratulated for that. They were calm and focused and represented their country well and we can all share pride in what the England team achieved.
Those people who threw abuse at these three lions I doubt would have been able to have stayed focused through a month of high level football. I doubt too, these hooligans would be as composed and articulate to match the eloquence of Rashford, Saka and Sancho.
What strength of character the 23 year old Rashford showed the nation. “For all the kind messages, thank you. I’ll be back strong. We’ll be back stronger.”
You have to admire this young man.
He inspires me and I would love to meet and interview him as part of NCFD’s work.
There is a lesson for all of us that work in the EDI arena. As a manager and leader Gareth Southgate achieved something which has been missing for the past 55 years. The England team played as a unified group, there wasn’t a dominant ego.
It seems the England side are scaling new heights because the players really do seem to enjoy playing for their country over their clubs. One could argue that club level tournaments took more of a priority in the past.
It’s great to see the team playing with pride. Southgate has done well to get rid of premier club rivalries. They have their feet firmly on the ground. So much so, when Jack Grealish was substituted in the Denmark game his fellow teammates were supportive.
No one deserves racist abuse.
At these times I often think of President Lincoln and the end of the American Civil War, which should be the benchmark for those who continually struggle. It brought about the end of slavery, the broadening of society through equality, the pursuit of justice, it created a land of opportunity, and more importantly freedom.
We should draw hope from President Lincoln’ Gettysburg Address:
“Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth upon this continent a new nation conceived in Liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”
And it was President Biden who after reflecting on Lincoln’s words said: “We must seek not to build walls, but bridges. We must seek not to clench our fists, but to open our arms. We must seek not to tear each other apart, but to come together.”
I couldn’t put it better myself.
