Sports are among the most egalitarian spheres that we have: appearance, race, and background shouldn’t be the point of reference, but rather the player’s ability. At least, that’s how it should be. However, the reality is that cases of racism in sports, especially in soccer, and news of discrimination are not only common, but are often worse given the context.
Why is racism in sports so common, in a field that supposedly strives for equality? These situations are not only vivid images of racism in the world, but also show how easy it is to fall into discriminatory behaviors when others are doing the same.
History of racism in sports
Sports have been a part of humanity since ancient times, often carrying significant social, military, and ritual components. However, organized sports as we know them today emerged alongside the industrial revolution, capitalism, and globalization, in the late 19th century.
Racism in the world has its roots in ancient colonialism, a political and economic regime where one state conquers, controls, and exploits foreign territories, often justifying exploitation and enslavement by augmenting that the conquered races are “inferior.”
Racism in sports began to gain media visibility in the early 20th century when hundreds of African American athletes began to excel in multiple disciplines, during the peak of segregationist ideologies in the US, and the superiority of the “Aryan race” in Europe.
Since then, scandals related to systemic injustices and racist comments in sports have continued to emerge, especially cases of racial discrimination in soccer, including mass booing and insults from the crowds, arbitrary race-related bans, sanctions against athletes protesting peacefully, and much more.
Why is there so much racism in football and soccer?
Every year, new cases of racial discrimination in sports emerge, but it seems that some sports are more prone to these type of scandals than others, particularly with thousands of people across the stands hurling racist insults at players from the opposing team.
Although racial diversity is evident, in the context of race and racism, modern sports reflect our western ideology and resonate in many aspects with the interests of colonialism and capitalism, along with supposed values like competition, meritocracy, the pursuit of supremacy, and even nationalism.
This doesn’t mean that sports or the passion that people have for them are inherently bad, but they are products of our modernity and, as such, are not exempt from discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes, especially when combined with the amplifying factor of collectivity, which brings anonymity.
In other words, sports that gather large numbers of fans create an ideal “breeding ground” for existing racist tendencies to be amplified and spread like wildfire. A person wouldn’t ordinarily shout “go back to your country, monkey!” at an African American on the street, but that same person, donning their team’s colors and surrounded by thousands of fellow fans, wouldn’t think twice about shouting that same insult at the star player of the opposing team.
There is a lot of “collective hysteria” in the phenomenon that is racism in soccer, but that doesn’t mean it’s harmless or justifiable, and certainly not inevitable. We can all get caught up in the heat of competition and unhealthy nationalism when the conditions are right, but by raising awareness, it’s much easier to avoid participating in it.
Athletes who have fought against racism
It’s important not to fall into the idea that athletes who have been victims of racism have endured it passively or have been defeated by it. Quite the contrary: history is full of iconic athletes who were not only extraordinary in their disciplines but also actively fought against racism, even paying for it with their careers by being deemed “too controversial” simply for not bowing their heads and turning a blind eye to racism.
Hundreds of athletes from all nationalities and backgrounds, including African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, have raised their voices after being subjected to mass humiliations or corporate injustices, becoming true standards for equality and respect for diversity. Here are some of their stories:
Jesse Owens
Jackie Robinson
Mohamed Alí
Curt Flod
Arthur Ashe
Tommie Smith y John Carlos
Hugo Sánchez
Colin Kaepernick
LeBron James
Carlos Kameni
Dani Alves
Mario Balotelli
Vinícius Júnior
At Makakooo, we believe that combating racism in sports also means remembering and honoring all those who have stood up to it. We’re likely missing many names. Don’t forget to add them in the comments, so others can learn about more athletes who have fought against racial discrimination, and who have shared their experiences in many more cases of discrimination.
Take a look at our catalog and discover the coolest style to combat racism.
Football against racism: no longer swept under the rug
Table of Contents
Sports are among the most egalitarian spheres that we have: appearance, race, and background shouldn’t be the point of reference, but rather the player’s ability. At least, that’s how it should be. However, the reality is that cases of racism in sports, especially in soccer, and news of discrimination are not only common, but are often worse given the context.
Why is racism in sports so common, in a field that supposedly strives for equality? These situations are not only vivid images of racism in the world, but also show how easy it is to fall into discriminatory behaviors when others are doing the same.
History of racism in sports
Sports have been a part of humanity since ancient times, often carrying significant social, military, and ritual components. However, organized sports as we know them today emerged alongside the industrial revolution, capitalism, and globalization, in the late 19th century.
Racism in the world has its roots in ancient colonialism, a political and economic regime where one state conquers, controls, and exploits foreign territories, often justifying exploitation and enslavement by augmenting that the conquered races are “inferior.”
Racism in sports began to gain media visibility in the early 20th century when hundreds of African American athletes began to excel in multiple disciplines, during the peak of segregationist ideologies in the US, and the superiority of the “Aryan race” in Europe.
Since then, scandals related to systemic injustices and racist comments in sports have continued to emerge, especially cases of racial discrimination in soccer, including mass booing and insults from the crowds, arbitrary race-related bans, sanctions against athletes protesting peacefully, and much more.
Why is there so much racism in football and soccer?
Every year, new cases of racial discrimination in sports emerge, but it seems that some sports are more prone to these type of scandals than others, particularly with thousands of people across the stands hurling racist insults at players from the opposing team.
Although racial diversity is evident, in the context of race and racism, modern sports reflect our western ideology and resonate in many aspects with the interests of colonialism and capitalism, along with supposed values like competition, meritocracy, the pursuit of supremacy, and even nationalism.
This doesn’t mean that sports or the passion that people have for them are inherently bad, but they are products of our modernity and, as such, are not exempt from discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes, especially when combined with the amplifying factor of collectivity, which brings anonymity.
In other words, sports that gather large numbers of fans create an ideal “breeding ground” for existing racist tendencies to be amplified and spread like wildfire. A person wouldn’t ordinarily shout “go back to your country, monkey!” at an African American on the street, but that same person, donning their team’s colors and surrounded by thousands of fellow fans, wouldn’t think twice about shouting that same insult at the star player of the opposing team.
There is a lot of “collective hysteria” in the phenomenon that is racism in soccer, but that doesn’t mean it’s harmless or justifiable, and certainly not inevitable. We can all get caught up in the heat of competition and unhealthy nationalism when the conditions are right, but by raising awareness, it’s much easier to avoid participating in it.
Athletes who have fought against racism
It’s important not to fall into the idea that athletes who have been victims of racism have endured it passively or have been defeated by it. Quite the contrary: history is full of iconic athletes who were not only extraordinary in their disciplines but also actively fought against racism, even paying for it with their careers by being deemed “too controversial” simply for not bowing their heads and turning a blind eye to racism.
Hundreds of athletes from all nationalities and backgrounds, including African Americans, Latinos, and Asians, have raised their voices after being subjected to mass humiliations or corporate injustices, becoming true standards for equality and respect for diversity. Here are some of their stories:
Jesse Owens
Jackie Robinson
Mohamed Alí
Curt Flod
Arthur Ashe
Tommie Smith y John Carlos
Hugo Sánchez
Colin Kaepernick
LeBron James
Carlos Kameni
Dani Alves
Mario Balotelli
Vinícius Júnior
At Makakooo, we believe that combating racism in sports also means remembering and honoring all those who have stood up to it. We’re likely missing many names. Don’t forget to add them in the comments, so others can learn about more athletes who have fought against racial discrimination, and who have shared their experiences in many more cases of discrimination.
Take a look at our catalog and discover the coolest style to combat racism.
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Football against racism: no longer swept under the rug
Sports are among the most egalitarian spheres that we have: appearance, race, and background shouldn’t be the point of reference, but rather the player’s ability. At least, that’s how it should be. However, the reality is that cases of racism in sports, especially in soccer, and news of discrimination are not only common, but are often worse given the context.
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Racism is a pervasive issue that affects society and communities in numerous ways. Understanding its roots and manifestations is the first step towards taking a zero-tolerance stance and stopping the normalization of racial discrimination around us. Together, we can create a fairer and more equal world where no one is discriminated against due to the color of their skin. Let’s combat racism together!