Something
astonishing is happening in the UK. While there is a government characterised
by sleaze and corruption completely lacking any sense of morality, it is football
players who step forward and challenge inequality and discrimination in society.
Whether it is Marcus Rashford pushing the government into ensuring that
children continue to receive free school meals during holidays (Guardian,
8 November 2020) or the English national team taking the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the struggle against structural racism (Guardian, 18 June 2021), they work towards social
justice. Unlike the current government, they are fully aware of their function
as role models for wider society and they live up to it.
These actions clearly have consequences. While teaching at university, I have noticed during the past academic year how especially also white, male students have started to engage critically with post-colonial and feminist theory, directly discussing in their essays events such as fans booing football players for taking the knee. There is a much broader awareness of the endemic racism and patriarchal oppression affecting our society. There is an understanding that things must change.
As the manager Gareth Southgate said, 'I have never believed that we should just stick to football' (Southgate 8 June 2021). When the government miserably fails in its task to ensure social cohesion, it is good to know that football players will continue to speak up.
Ah,
and yes, actually, they are also winning on the pitch!
Personal website: http://andreasbieler.net
7 July 2021
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