Players want football to unite in fight against racism in same way it did to stop ESL

Black players and coaches are set to make a fresh attempt to lobby football’s governing bodies to tackle racism and discrimination after the game brought down the controversial European Super League.

The comparative lack of action on racism has been an especially big talking point among black current and former players, managers and coaches, along with being noted by some of their more socially aware counterparts like Leeds striker Patrick Bamford.

Football’s Black Coalition are set to be central to the discussions. FBC was launched in October, a body made up of black coaches and players past and present aiming to get football’s stakeholders to do more to combat racism and also address under-representation in football. 

Leeds forward Patrick Bamford brought the issue into sharp focus on Monday night

Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright said this week: ‘It’s very difficult to ignore what can be done by everybody when they come together in respects of seeing wrong and stamping it out.

‘Imagine how wonderful this world would be if everybody mobilised themselves like that for racism, inequality.

‘The only thing that’s different is there is no money to be gained from stopping racism. If there was, it would probably be eradicated.’ 

 It is a week since Ondrej Kudela was given a 10-game ban for racially abusing Glen Kamara

Players such as Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings continue to receive racist abuse on social media 

Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang labelled Tuesday as ‘an even bigger day for social justice’ after Derek Chauvin was found guilty of murdering George Floyd

Authorities who have been accused of repeatedly failing to deal adequately with racist incidents such as FIFA and UEFA were quick to issue statements condemning the ESL plans soon after they emerged.

Clubs were threatened with serious punishments and players told they faced being banned from international football.

But frustration continues to grow about the lack of firm action to fight racism.