Going Dark: The Football Jersey’s Dangerous Connection With Racism, Prejudice, and Complicity

The England jersey encapsulates more than just a few colours and a logo. It is a powerful tribute to the Football Association, the sports governing body here in England, as well as the monarchy, with the lion appearing on the arms of every English (and British) monarch since the late 12th century. This begins with Henry I, whose crest featured a single golden lion, rampant on a red field. Henry II’s family crest also featured a lion. It took their son, Richard the Lionheart, who spent barely six months in England despite being born on its soil, to unite the three lions into the national symbol it is today. This symbol was used as a sign of English strength and spirit, riding into battle for the sake of the country and winning as heroes. It also represented family, and generations of royals brought together, worn by soldiers riding into war. It gave ordinary individuals a sense of purpose, respect, and strength. Now, it is worn by footballers, who represent the country by competing for national celebration and a chance to say that we won. In a similar vein, the 2020 UEFA European Football Championship gave ordinary members of the British public a chance to feel inspired by their country and its community. This was the perfect opportunity for the country to bounce back from the pandemic and emerge as champions. People gathered in pubs, parks, and online, with everyone watching the game in some form - but who exactly are the people?

King Richard the Lionheart

The finals took place on July 21st 2021, with England playing against Italy. The game started out promisingly, with England at an all-time high after their recent victories to reach this position. Many news outlets and television shows drew comparisons between this game and the 1966 finals, especially emphasising the game’s final result as dependent on penalties - a swift uppercut destroyed England in their last opportunity. The tension was on for most in London, where football and drinking merged as fundamental components of the championship culture. Pubs stayed open until early hours of the morning, with additional security to make sure the night was as calm as it could be. For many watching the game, it was an exhilarating experience, with crowds thirsty to witness a defining moment in English sports history. Royalty were sat in the seats of the iconic Wembley stadium, and with the Prime Minister promising a national holiday should England win, all eyes were on the players to perform.

The scariest aspect of the night was the absolute silence that accompanied it. For over seven days before the game, women were speaking out against football culture and its connection with domestic violence. When a national team plays, domestic violence statistics increase by 26%, regardless of the result. When a team loses, the numbers go up by a devastating 38%. According to Kick It Out, an organisation dedicated to tackling racism and discrimination in the football industry, there has been a 95% increase in discrimination towards queer people, and a 53% increase in racism, in professional games. On the night of the final, many black people spoke out about the potential risk in going to the pubs or the stadium, encouraging people to stay at home and stay safe. Queer people also mirrored this narrative, retweeting messages and voicing their own: “It isn’t safe.” Sanjay Bhandari, Chair at Kick It Out, said, “This year the pandemic and the killing of George Floyd turned the world on its head. Football responded positively with clubs increasing their work in the community and with the players symbolising the demand for greater equality of opportunity by taking a knee. But beneath the surface, hate and division in society remains a lurking pernicious threat. Our reports indicate a steep rise in discrimination reports over the last two years, which reflect the Hate Crime statistics from the Home Office that show marked national increases over the last four years.”

Statistics on domestic violence from LSE

The racist abuse faced by players Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Bukayo Saka following England’s loss has been at the forefront of these discussions. These three players missed their penalties in the shootout, and were relentlessly targeted on social media as the only black players on the team. England manager Gareth Southgate spoke out against the racist abuse aimed at the players, saying that it is “unforgivable” and disgusting: “It’s just not what we stand for. We have been a beacon of light in bringing people together, in people being able to relate to the national team, and the national team stands for everybody and so that togetherness has to continue… It’s my decision who takes the penalties, it’s not a case of players not volunteering or more experienced players backing out.” Prime Minister Boris Johnson also spoke out in support of the players, saying that “They brought joy to this country, and to those who have been directing racist abuse I say ‘shame on you and I hope you will crawl back under the rock from which you emerged’”. It is important to note that Johnson has never explicitly spoken out against crowds booing when players have taken the knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, but has said he wants to see fans “getting behind the team to cheer them on”.

For the Football Association and other official representatives, the fallout from the final was a shock. But how can it be when these things happen to black people in the UK nearly every single day? Not long ago, white football fans were praising Marcus Rashford and his food poverty activism. He campaigned and raised funds so that hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged children across the UK could have access to free meals during the pandemic. Now, he has been on the receiving end of hateful slurs and monkey emoji spam.

Saka and Gareth Southgate after losing the game

For many, the England jersey has come to indicate hatred, prejudice, discrimination, and intolerance. Those people that infiltrated Wembley stadium, broke traffic lights, littered relentlessly, and enacted violence in the wake of a lost game remind us of how much work still needs to be done for equality and representation. Days after the final, Rashford and other football players were labelled ‘heroes’ for their valiant effort in the game, but they are not heroes. They are victims at the hands of a confederacy of white hypocrites. For generations, football has been tainted by the actions of an ignorant few, such that women, queer people, and people of colour remain wary and stay clear. The England jersey strives to represent community and togetherness, but for now, it has simply highlighted their absence.