persuasive essay on racism in football

Tackling racism in football: from silence to speaking out

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Data released this year has highlighted the not-so-beautiful side of the beautiful game – bringing to the forefront, yet again, deeply rooted racist behaviour and attitudes on and off the pitch.

Despite numerous campaigns, initiatives and movements aiming to tackle racism in football, figures from inclusion and diversity charity Kick It Out have shown cases of racist abuse rose by 53% between 2019-2020.

The walk-off by players from Paris St-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir during a Champions League game on December 8 may be one such example of players feelings of disillusionment about the way the industry handles racism. Both teams walked off the pitch and the match was abandoned following an alleged racist slur from the fourth official towards Istanbul Basakshehir’s assistant coach.

Recent analysis of Millwall fans booing players for taking a knee before a game against Derby on December 5 also reflects the wider “toxicity” of racism on the pitch as in everyday life.

As Herman Ouseley, chair of Kick it Out explained to the Institute of Race Relations in November 2011, “the reality of racism in sport is the reality of racism in society” . In other words, if sport is considered a microcosm of society, then narratives we’re seeing today reflect the state of race relations in society.

Therefore, tackling racism in football involves confronting institutional racism, systemic prejudice, toxic behaviours and unconscious biases across society for change within and beyond sport.

Football, Racism and Me

The recent BBC One documentary Anton Ferdinand: Football, Racism and Me provides a clear picture of the challenges facing the industry. Broadcast on November 30, the documentary revisits instances of racism in football to reveal the effects of racism on and beyond the pitch.

In one of the biggest racism cases in English football, we see the former professional footballer and Premier League player Anton Ferdinand reflect on the impacts of racial abuse during a Premier League match between Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and Chelsea in October 2011. Ferdinand, playing then for QPR, found himself in an altercation with the Chelsea captain John Terry, leading to Ferdinand being subjected to an alleged racist slur from Terry. Terry was found not guilty in a court of law, but the Football Association (FA) found him guilty of racist abuse and issued a £220,000 fine and a four-game ban.

Long-term effects of Racism

Ferdinand’s personal accounts of the incident provide rich insights into the effects of racism experienced and encountered on the football pitch that then seep into other public and private domains of a player’s life. One key message is the need to move beyond confinements of silence to finding the strength to speak out for change. But talking about the impacts of racism is not an journey, nor does it yield instant results. It took Ferdinand nine years to bring his story to the public sphere.

Other footballers who also recently broke their silence over racism in football are Paul Parker and Paul Williams, former 1990s Premier League players, whose experiences occurred decades ago. As Ferdinand explains in the documentary, coming forward meant going through a spectrum of intense emotions. He describes feeling “scared of the whirlwind of what happened”, “the abuse on social media” and the potential impact speaking out would have on the court case.

A study conducted between June 17 2020 and July 26 2020, commissioned by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) charity and supported by Kick It Out, found 43% of Premier League players had experienced racist abuse on Twitter .

Being a victim of racial abuse, like any other form of abuse, inflicts on psychological and emotional well-being, which may require intervention, including counselling and therapy. Footballers are being given support – according to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), the PFA has offered counselling to England footballers subjected to racial abuse. According to the BACP, a rising number of players are experiencing feelings of stress, depression and anxiety, highlighting the multifaceted aspects of mental health issues experienced by footballers following racial abuse.

Breaking the silence

By speaking out about the impact of racism on their professional and personal lives, footballers are challenging institutional racism in the industry. As noted by Chris Grant (a board member of Sport England) this wider “systemic problem” (the social agencies and structures that govern us, such as education, health, justice, and politics) fuels racism in sport.

Still, the industry’s ability to empower change is immense and there is research showing the positive impact athletes have in society, beyond just being role models for their fans. As Stanford University study has shown, the “Mo Salah effect” is one example of this. The arrival of Egyptian-born Mo Salah, a Muslim man, at Liverpool Football Club has been said to contribute to a decline in Islamophobia in the Merseyside area of Liverpool , as well as anti-Muslim racism from Liverpool fans. Ferdinand’s account of shortfalls in football when it comes to tackling racism is another example of this kind of “prejudice-reduction effort” , although further research is required to measure the impact in terms of tackling racism in football.

Tackling Racism in Football

New concepts of diversity can be applied to combating racism in sports. What journalist Matthew Syed refers to as [“the power of diverse thinking”] [https://www.matthewsyed.co.uk/resource/rebel-ideas-the-power-of-diverse-thinking/], for example, involves working with people who have or have had different experiences in life that are different to the majority. Take the ability of overseas football managers and players to improve performance on the pitch through their different styles of play and leadership, for example. Change can emerge through the representation of non-Western leadership styles and by drawing on international cultural capital to reach out to global networks.

Engaging with different perspectives and embracing them can contribute to driving similar change and creativity in organisations and wider society. When various Black, Minority, Asian and Ethnic (BAME) groups are represented on sport boards, their socioeconomic status and schooling can involve different characteristics to majority members, and as such need to be taken into consideration.

By joining forces with social movements such as #BlackLivesMatter and #TakeAKnee, it appears anti-racism is moving to the centre stage. While race equality initiatives have helped, recent incidents show there is still a long way to go.

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Confronting Racism in Football: Analysing the Failures and the Way Forward

• July 4, 2023
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The Issue of Racism in Football

Racism continues to be a persistent problem in football, as highlighted by recent incidents involving Heung-Min Son and Vinicius Jr. Son, a forward for Tottenham Hotspur, faced despicable racist abuse during a match against West Ham. The club promptly condemned the racism and called for action from social media companies and authorities. Vinicius, a player for Real Madrid, endured multiple instances of racism throughout the season, including a notable incident during a match against Valencia where he spoke out against supporters for their racist remarks. Real Madrid lodged a hate crime complaint, while Vinicius criticised the inadequate efforts of Spanish football authorities. These examples demonstrate the ongoing issue of racism in football, with the current responses falling short of expectations.

While there have been some efforts to combat racism in football, it is important to acknowledge that the progress made thus far has been limited. Various organisations and leagues, such as the Football Association (FA) and La Liga, have taken steps to condemn and address racism in the sport. However, these initiatives have not been sufficient to completely eradicate the problem. Racism still persists, and the measures implemented so far have not effectively addressed the underlying issues or fully resolved the tensions arising from racial discrimination. Therefore, it is clear that more significant progress is needed to truly confront and overcome racism in football.

The most common response has been the implementation of disciplinary measures against offenders, such as fines, bans, and stadium closures. However, these reactive measures fail to address the underlying causes and tensions that fuel racism. The FA and the English Premier League have spearheaded initiatives like the “Kick It Out” campaign, while UEFA has implemented the “No to Racism” campaign. Despite these efforts, racism persists, indicating the need for a more comprehensive approach.

Historically, racism in football dates back to the 1970s when targeted abuse against black players was rampant. Measures have been introduced, including stricter punishments and anti-racism campaigns, but they have primarily focused on individual cases rather than tackling the systemic roots of racism. To eradicate racism from football, a proactive and comprehensive approach is imperative.

Criticism of the Current Response

The way racism in football has been handled so far has received criticism because it hasn’t been very successful and has some major flaws. Simply punishing offenders is not enough to tackle the deeply rooted prejudices and discriminatory beliefs that exist. While punishments may deter some people from engaging in racist behaviour, they don’t address the larger societal and cultural issues that contribute to racism within the football community.

Efforts to combat racism in football have also encountered challenges in effectively educating and raising awareness among players, fans, and stakeholders. Campaigns such as “Kick It Out” and “No to Racism” have made significant strides, but they often struggle to engage with a diverse audience and fail to reach those who most urgently need to hear the message. Furthermore, the response lacks the necessary resources and long-term commitment required to create lasting change.

The response to racism in Spanish football is particularly concerning. The recent incident involving Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr during a match against Valencia exemplifies the inadequate leadership and response from La Liga. Despite the opportunity to take a firm stand against racism, the league’s leadership was lacking, leaving many disappointed. La Liga President Javier Tebas, instead of showing complete solidarity with the victim, denigrated Vinicius Jr himself. Such a response not only fails to address the issue but also creates an environment where players fear being targeted, doubted, and denigrated when facing racism.

The response from FIFA President Gianni Infantino was equally disheartening. Rather than criticising La Liga’s handling of the incident, Infantino merely “recommended” the adoption of FIFA’s three-step anti-racism protocol, which he shared on a temporary Instagram story. The protocol itself appears inadequate, as it allows for multiple instances of racial abuse before substantial action is taken. This leaves players vulnerable to repeated mistreatment and fails to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Vinicius Jr’s experience is not isolated, as he has faced racism in Spanish stadiums on multiple occasions. While La Liga points to legal action against fans and the Spanish football federation’s jurisdiction over referees, these efforts fall short of providing adequate protection and support for victims. Furthermore, the response from certain sections of the Spanish football media exacerbates the issue, shifting blame onto the victim and casting doubt on the experiences of players who endure racism. This kind of reporting perpetuates a culture of scepticism and undermines the seriousness of the problem.

To address the deep-rooted problem of racism in Spanish football, FIFA, as the global governing body, must take a stronger stance. Merely advocating for education is insufficient. It is crucial for FIFA to pressure Spain and other countries to implement stringent protocols and punishments that prevent players from being exposed to racism and hatred. FIFA should leverage its influence and consider warning that Spain’s hopes of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup are in jeopardy unless they demonstrate a firmer commitment to eradicating racism from football.

Urgent Measures for Player Protection and Collective Action

  To effectively address the persistent issue of racism in Spanish football, it is crucial to implement comprehensive measures that prioritise the protection of players and promote collective action against discrimination. The following initiatives, taking into account both positive and negative examples, can play a vital role in creating a safer and more inclusive football environment:

• Allocating Resources for Player Protection: Establishing dedicated staff to monitor the behaviour of fans across the stadium can help identify instances of racial abuse promptly. These staff members can work closely with security personnel to intervene and take appropriate action against offenders, ensuring that players are safeguarded from such vitriolic treatment.
• Stronger Consequences for Persistent Abuse: If racial abuse continues even after the initial pause and warning, it is essential to escalate the consequences. Matches should be canceled, and the opposing team should be awarded the points. This firm response sends a clear message that racism will not be tolerated in Spanish football and serves as a deterrent for future incidents.
• Swift and Unified Condemnation: All official entities involved in Spanish football, including clubs, governing bodies, and leagues, must condemn any acts of racism immediately and unequivocally. It is disheartening to witness examples where leaders fail to demonstrate complete solidarity. For instance, the recent incident involving Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr at Valencia saw La Liga President Javier Tebas denouncing the victim of racism rather than showing complete support. Such negative examples highlight the urgent need for consistent and unwavering condemnation of racism within Spanish football. On the other hand, positive examples can serve as models for effective action. For instance, Chelsea has taken a strong stance against racism by banning a season ticket holder indefinitely for alleged racist abuse of Spurs player Son Heung-min. This proactive measure demonstrates the club’s commitment to addressing and eradicating racism within its fanbase.
• Encouraging Commentators to Speak Out: Commentators play a significant role in shaping the narrative of football matches, and their voices reach a global audience. It is crucial to encourage and empower commentators to denounce racial abuse during broadcasts. By openly addressing incidents of racism and highlighting their unacceptability, commentators can contribute to raising awareness and fostering a culture of intolerance towards discrimination.

Implementing these measures requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders, including football authorities, clubs, media, and fans. By prioritising player protection, consistently condemning racism, involving commentators as advocates, and promoting education and awareness, the world of football can take significant strides towards eradicating racism from the sport.

It is imperative to remember that football has the potential to be a powerful force for positive change. By taking a stand against racism, avoiding negative examples that undermine support, and fostering an environment of inclusivity and respect, the possible change in Spanish football can inspire the world and contribute to a future where discrimination has no place in the beautiful game.

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Essay: Anti-Racism Fight in Football: Kevin-Prince Boateng’s Brave Direct Action & FIFA’s Dismissal

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Racism in any walk of life is completely vile and unnecessary. Frustratingly, even in the ‘beautiful game’, football, no effort has been made to prevent racism from happening. Slogans. Paltry fines. Captains reading out impassive pre-prepared statements over the tannoy. Further paltry fines. Meaningless T-shirts. When nothing significant changes, when words fall on deliberately deaf ears, when punishments are forgotten too easily, when the authorities do not make the effort help, eventually there will come a time for direct action. A brave and powerful message, in football’s attempt to bring the poisonous undercurrent of racism to an end, came from the football boot of Kevin-Prince Boateng who currently plays for AC Milan. Maybe you might want to take your kids along to get a close-up view of some of Milan’s players. Maybe you might think it is appropriate to aim racist insults at some of those very players. Shamefully, unbelievably, some people evidently did. And because of this, Boateng picked up the ball and kicked it in their direction and visibly upset, headed for the tunnel. Boateng removed his shirt and walked. Spontaneously, applause broke out from the majority of the crowd. Boateng having put his shirt around his neck applauded back. In that moment, there was recognition that his act of defiance was an important step in the struggle against racism. There are those who argue that this form of protest is letting the aggressors win, that the best way to counter it is to ignore it and keep playing. However it is hard to sustain that argument when it does not work. The aggressors have clearly not understood yet via any other attempts to reject such moronic behaviour. This incident has raised many questions and much public debate. Should these players have left the field of play? Why do these incidents occur? Do these incidents imply racism is an issue that refuses go away? What should be done to prevent this behaviour? These are by no means new questions; many of which have been raised in several countries over the years as part of wider movements to combat racism in society. The governing body of football, FIFA, has made no effort to reduce the amount of racist incidents occurring. For example, the Serbian FA were only fined ??64,946 because their fans racially abused England’s players, whereas Nicklas Bendtner was fined almost ??20,000 more for displaying a bookmaker’s logo during a celebration. That seems fair; advertising without permission is evidently more serious than racism…according to FIFA. Why is it that in modern society, racism is being treated as just a small issue by FIFA? Why is that every time a racist incident occurs, it is just brushed under the carpet? Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president claimed racism was not a problem in football and that black players should remember it is ‘just a game’ and ‘shake hands’ with their abusers. Is that a joke? I find it disgusting how they could use such condescending comments, but what also concerns me is that the head of our world organisation has had to make apologies on more than just a few occasions. He almost seems untouchable. Furthermore, during the 2010-11 season, there were 43 arrests for racist chanting at football matches in England and Wales, the highest total since 2005-6. The Times newspaper (UK) reports a survey in which 41 per cent of supporters polled claim to have seen or heard racial abuse, particularly racist chanting, in the last two years. A further 27 per cent had done so in the last five years, whilst only 32 per cent believed that racism on the terraces had been ‘practically eliminated’. These statistics reveal the need to overcome complacency and ensure the battle against racism continues through a mix of educational, stewarding and policing measures. All those with a stake in the game ‘ fans, clubs, the governing bodies and police – have a responsibility to ensure that football stadiums and their immediate vicinity are free of racial attacks. Growing awareness of the problems, and measures such as better training of stewards are assisting that process. The rise in police arrests is pitiful and until arrest figures match the reality of the problem, fans and players will lack the confidence to actually report incidents and those affected will continue to stay away. In any case, whether it is in football, any other sport, or in day to day life, racism is still a serious issue. The fact that many fans are racially abusing players in modern society is worrying. The fight against racism is a long-term struggle that involves raising awareness and education that the discrimination and intimidation of another person because of the colour of their skin is unacceptable on the sports field, or anywhere else. If we don’t raise awareness, and insist to ignore every incident, the situation is just going to worsen. Without awareness and education, our children will think it’s acceptable to be openly racist at football matches, or anywhere else for that matter. Is that what you want?

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Gary Neville's passionate speech about racism in football ruined by Sky Sports' interjection

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Sven goran-eriksson unhappy with steve mcclaren comment in final england meeting, 11 greatest english dribblers in football history [ranked].

Chelsea ’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur was marred by an incident of racist abuse in the second half.

Play was stopped after an object was thrown on to the pitch and Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger claimed he heard monkey noises from the crowd.

An announcement inside Tottenham’s stadium warned that “racist behaviour is interfering with the game” and the message was heard two more times before full-time.

It’s the latest in a string of racist incidents to affect football matches in England.

Racism has been rife from the Premier League down to non-league in 2019 and it’s a scary situation that English football is facing.

• Rudiger subjected to racist abuse
• Neville accuses Boris Johnson of fuelling racism
• Serie A's disgraceful 'anti-racism' campaign

The problem was discussed on Sky Sports, with pundit Gary Neville calling for the Premier League to stop hiding behind the FA on the issue.

Neville recently called out UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson for enabling racism in England and he reiterated that point once again on Sunday.

"We have a racism problem in the Premier League, in England, and the Premier League have got to stand up," Neville said.

"They hide behind the FA, the Premier League, on this issue, they hide behind the FA, in my opinion. They push disciplinary issues to the FA. 

"Yes, we heard the announcements at the end. But I said it a couple of weeks ago, we’ve just had a General Election in this country, both main parties and the leaders of both main parties [have been] accused constantly over the last month of fuelling racism and accepting racism in their parties.

"If it’s accepted in the highest office in the country, we’re not talking at a micro-level, we’re talking about it at the absolute highest office in the country.

"And it’s the same here today, we’ve seen an incident, to be fair which we could say is down to one individual person, but it’s a far bigger problem than that.

"I think there has to be something that happens quickly. I think we maybe have to empower the players to walk off the pitch and stop the entertainment while it’s happening. That’s the only way I can see it happen.

"Ultimately, I didn’t walk off the pitch when [fellow pundit] Ashley [Cole] was abused 15 years ago and you might argue that it’s now okay for me to sit here in my ivory tower of the commentary box and suggest players should walk off the pitch.

"But I think I would be ashamed of not doing it 15 years ago and absolutely proud of players now to empower them to think, do something about it, take it into your own hands.

"The PFA have to act because the PFA are there to protect players in this country and players in this country are receiving abuse while playing football and doing their jobs and that is unacceptable.

"The PFA have to take it into their own hands with the Premier League and FA and stop pointing the finger towards the Bulgarian FA and Spanish FA because we have to deal with our own ship here."

However, Neville's speech was ruined somewhat by the interjection of presenter David Jones.

"I am compelled to say the opinions of you, Gary Neville, are not those of Sky Sports, that is my duty," Jones said.

When Neville asked Jones if he didn't agree with his comments, the presenter replied: "Whether I do or I don’t is completely irrelevant, I’m here to try and hold a balanced debate."

Jones' interjection upset many on Twitter who felt it diluted a powerful moment.

GIVEMESPORT’s Scott Wilson says:

England can no longer ignore the fact that it has a racism problem.

Whether Neville is right when he says the country’s political leaders have paved the way for it or not, football fans are now feeling emboldened to hurl racist abuse at players.

One possible way to help would be with a stronger announcement in the stadium than: “Racist behaviour is interfering with the game”.

How about telling fans that anyone found guilty of racism will be banned from football for life and prosecuted, and with a warning that the match will be abandoned if the abuse continues?

The message needs to be stronger.

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Racism in Soccer

How it works

Racism has been a part of civilization for a very long time now and will be something that will always be around. It has even found its way into sports all around the world and the problem continues to grow. Sports of all kinds have this problem, from organizations such as the NBA and NFL, to the leagues in other countries. One of the biggest sports in the world, soccer, has one of the worst issues with racism. Since soccer is played in every part of the world, many different cultures and races come together to participate.

Many of today’s players will go to different countries and play for other teams. When they do so, they run into many fans of opposing teams and even their own supporters ridiculing them on and off the field. This behavior can be demoralizing to a player that is trying to play a sport that they love. There are so many cases of racism in the sport and there is hardly anything done to stop it.

The game has a problem with the way fans treat the players. With soccer being such a global sport, the problem is noticed more than in other sports. If soccer supporters and organizations would stop the problem, and implement ways to control it, other sports organizations would follow. Racism has been going on for many years now and just continues to get worse in todays society.

In April of 2019, Danny Rose, a left back for the English national team, said “I’ve got five or six years left in football, and, I just can’t wait to see the back of it.” The incident that caused Rose to say this, was when Montenegro fans directed “monkey” chants to him and his teammate, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who are black. This happened during a Euro 2020 qualifying match. The story of this is sad and the fact that fans of other teams are doing this is pitiful. I’m sure that they would not like their players getting mocked so why should they do it to others. Rose looking forward to retirement, because of the racism he is subjected to, should not be happening. He isn’t the only player in the sport that has said this either. Players should not have to be counting down the days to get away from being ridiculed. Many of todays soccer players are coming together to help one another and stand up for each other. Since organizations will not take drastic action to stop the issues, many are needing help to get through it and standing up to their ridiculers.

Another issue that occurred in April of 2019, was when Juventus’s forward, Moise Kean, scored a goal. The player then proceeded to celebrate, which then triggered fans to start chanting racist comments at him. Celebrating is a part of the soccer culture and it happens after almost every goal scored. This wasn’t anything new that he had done, but for some reason, the fans were being hateful to him that day. The chants then caused the opposing team’s players to come to his aid. They procced to yell at the fans making the chants and helped support him when he was visibly upset. This however wasn’t the end of the situation. Kean’s teammate, Leonardo Bonuccie, said later to reporters that Kean was partly to blame for the angry response. That statement from Bonuccie added to the situation and caused many players from other teams to come to Kean’s aid and give their thoughts. Manchester City’s, Raheem Sterling, went to twitter and ridiculed Bonuccie for not standing by his own teammate. Paul Pogba, a former player for Juventus, gave Kean encouragement and told him to keep on working every day and assured him that he has his back, along with many other players.

One of the biggest moments in recent soccer history that brought the racism problem to light, was back in 2014 with Barcelona’s right back, Dani Alves. Dani Alves is a Brazilian player that played for Barcelona in Spain. The match they were playing was against rivals, Real Madrid, and is one of the biggest matches of the year in soccer. Dani Alves had been ridiculed and told he was a monkey many times before. This time Alves decided to take a different approach to the matter. He was taking a corner kick when a fan threw a banana onto the field at him.

Unlike most times when he wouldn’t acknowledge it he did this time. He picked the banana up, peeled it, took a bite, and proceeded to take the corner. This time he took an approach many hadn’t before, he used humor to get through the racist action of the fan. This is one of the first times any soccer player has really acknowledged a fan’s comment during a match. Dani Alves’s actions sparked a big uprising of support from other players and this is really when some actions began to take place to prevent racism to the players. A lot of the support Alves received was praise for doing what he had done.

Former Barcelona striker, Gary Lineker, said “Utterly brilliant reaction from Alves. Treat the racist person with complete disdain!” Many others also added in with the support. Neymar, one of Alves’s teammates at Barcelona and on the Brazilian national team posted a picture of him eating a banana. Sergio Aguero, Manchester City’s striker also did the same as Neymar. The actions of Dani Alves was known all around the world after it took place and was a staple for the campaigns in place today to prevent racism on soccer. With all the recent high-profile cases of racism directed at the players, FIFA is starting to crack down even more than ever. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said recently that he has told the referees to even abandon matches in the worst cases.

To me I don’t think this would be a good idea. If they decided to just quit the game, it would be letting the people who are racist win and get the satisfaction. The president says that abandoning the match would help prevent racism but I just don’t see that happening. Referees have in cases stopped a game before because of fans being racist and causing to much trouble. This is a good way to combat it and the people that are responsible should be taken out and banned for life from coming back to that particular stadium. Many clubs are beginning to incorporate a zero-tolerance policy to help stop the actions for good.

Many cops and guards are now placed in all sections of the stadiums. Their job is to identify anyone making any type of racist gestures or comments, and if so, to escort them out immediately. Many of the players fully support this and have even lobbied for their own clubs to do so. This would make the players feel a lot safer on the field and they could then focus more on the game instead of hearing all of the fans ridiculing them because of who they are and where they are from. FIFA is slowly starting to crack down on the racism that takes place in soccer around the world. They will probably never be able to completely stop it, but they can stop it from happening as often and help it from getting carried away. The racists that do these things to the players are ruining the game not only for the other supporters, but also for the players. Players are not looking forward to games as much because of all the hurt and hate they have received, and many are even looking forward to retiring now.

The racism needs to be stopped once and for all so the game, that the world loves, can continue to grow and appeal to the youth. To me, if the racism continues, it will drive many young players away from going professional because they are scared of the comments and don’t want to have to worry about being ridiculed because of their color and their culture. FIFA is finally acting towards the issues, and once the racism is suppressed, the game will be much safer and much more entertaining.

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Real Madrid will walk off pitch in face of racism - Vinícius

Brazil and Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior breaks down in tears at a press conference as he describes the feeling of playing while facing racist abuse. (1:43)

• Alex Kirkland
• Rodrigo Faez

Vinícius Júnior said he and his Real Madrid teammates are prepared to walk off the pitch if he faces more racist abuse from fans in LaLiga this season.

The Brazil international has been targeted by opposition supporters on multiple occasions, including at Valencia 's Mestalla Stadium in May 2023.

That incident eventually saw three fans jailed earlier this year, in what LaLiga said was the first guilty verdict of its kind in Spain.

However, Vinícius has also suffered racist abuse at Barcelona , Mallorca , Real Valladolid , Pamplona and Sevilla , as well as around derbies with Madrid's rivals, Atlético Madrid .

In an interview with CNN published on Wednesday, Vinícius said he and the team would act differently if faced with another situation like the one in Valencia, when the game was temporarily suspended after he identified fans in the crowd who had abused him.

"In the club, we talk about it more often," Vinícius said. "Not just me, but all [the] players said that if that happens, the next time everyone has to leave the field, so that all of those people who insulted us have to pay a much bigger penalty.

"In the case of what happened in Valencia, after the game -- after we thought about it -- everyone said that the right thing to do is to leave the field, but because you are there defending a team, we know that not everyone in the stadium is racist and were just there to watch the game.

"It's always very difficult to end a game, but with everything that's been happening, that each time is getting worse, we do need to leave the field so things can change as soon as possible."

LaLiga gathers evidence of racist abuse and passes it on to local hate crime prosecutors, who on several occasions have decided not to press charges.

The league has called on the Spanish government to change the law, to allow it to punish perpetrators directly; it also praised the Valencia ruling as sending "a clear message to those people who go to a football stadium to hurl abuse."

"Today I already see and feel the difference in Spain," Vinícius said on Wednesday. "Today -- maybe [some fans] are still racists -- but nowadays they are afraid to express themselves in the football field, and in places where there are a lot of cameras.

"And with that we will reduce racism, little by little. Of course, we won't be able to end it, but I'm already happy that I'm being able to change Spain's mindset."

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A Celebratory Take on Audre Lorde’s Brave, Hard, Unconventional Life

“Survival Is a Promise,” a new biography by Alexis Pauline Gumbs, is an unabashed homage to the poet known for her political commitment and community building.

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By Ayten Tartici

Ayten Tartici is a writer and critic. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Review of Books and The Yale Review, among other venues.

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SURVIVAL IS A PROMISE: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde , by Alexis Pauline Gumbs

Audre Lorde was in an auditorium at Stanford reading “ Power ,” a poem about Clifford Glover, a 10-year-old African American boy fatally shot by the police in 1973, when the walls began to shake. Lorde did not notice the earthquake, mistaking some audience members’ sudden flight to the exit as an unwillingness to listen. She raised her voice and kept reading. In her canonical poetry collection “The Black Unicorn” (1978), she swears an oath to stick it out: “May I never lose that terror that keeps me brave.”

Anecdotes of endurance like this one enliven “Survival Is a Promise,” a new biography by Alexis Pauline Gumbs of the self-identified “ Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet ,” who died in 1992 . For the past two decades, the gold standard of Lorde biographies has been Alexis De Veaux’s groundbreaking “Warrior Poet” (2004), the only comprehensive resource regarding Lorde’s life aside from her semi-fictionalized autobiography, “Zami: A New Spelling of My Name.” With “Survival Is a Promise” Gumbs, a scholar and poet herself, takes a different tack, delivering an unabashed celebration of Lorde, a legally blind girl with a stutter and Caribbean roots who became the first Black poet to deliver a solo reading sponsored by the Academy of American Poets.

Unconventional in structure as well as tone, “Survival Is a Promise” features brief chapters arranged by topic — Lorde’s fondness for bees; locks of her hair now preserved at Spelman College ; her photographs of St. Croix after Hurricane Hugo — along with Gumbs’s ecological, geological and cosmic reflections. Gumbs explains, for example, Lorde’s symbiotic relationship with her long-term partner Frances Clayton, who gave up a tenured position in psychology at Brown to live with Lorde and her children, through the orientation of sunflowers in relation to the sun.

There is no room for Lorde’s flaws in this book; she is a goddess, an avatar, an icon. As an entry point into Lorde’s poetry, though, Gumbs’s persuasive close readings create a virtuous circle, shining a light on how the life generated the poems, which now elucidate that life. Her goal is to steer us away from the one-liners — “My silences have not protected me. Your silence will not protect you” — that have too often been Lorde’s legacy and focus us instead on the poet’s forthright voice, on the political and emotional resonance of her work: “ As a diamond comes into a knot of flame/I am Black because I come from the earth’s inside .”

Lorde was born in 1934 in Harlem to immigrant parents from the island of Grenada. Her light-skinned mother, Linda, worked as a dishwasher until her employer discovered that she wasn’t Spanish and fired her. She later helped Lorde’s father, Byron, who ran a real estate office for Black families excluded from the housing market. In her journal, Lorde wrote, “I had one of those grotesque childhoods that turns a person into a poem.” Her parents expected total obedience from Audre and her two sisters — De Veaux says Audre’s mother beat her almost daily for her “insolence” — though her father also encouraged reading, bringing home pallets of books won for cheap at auctions.

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