Myles Lewis-Skelly’s recent call-up to the England National Team should have been a moment of celebration. Instead, it’s been marred by hate and racial abuse, both online and offline, representing a disturbing trend within English football. Lewis-Skelly, a promising young player, has faced unjustified attacks echoing the hostility that other young Black players like Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho, Jude Bellingham, and Bukayo Saka have also endured. These players are subjected to abuse not for their performances, but seemingly for their confidence, their success, and most disturbingly their race. They are often labelled with vague, damning accusations: “attitude issues,” or worse, “PR merchants.” Rashford was branded a “PR merchant” for daring to take on the government and fight for free school meals during lockdown. His efforts fed millions of children across the country, yet the backlash was immense. Where is this same level of vitriol for white players?
Embed from Getty ImagesTake Jack Grealish, for instance. While he has had his moments of controversy, the general consensus around him is that he’s a “likeable” and “funny” character. The narrative surrounding him is of a charming, cheeky player, he’s rarely dragged into the same toxic discourse faced by his Black teammates. Can we name five white players who have endured similar levels of disrespect? It’s a short list. Yes, Palmer and Foden have faced abuse, but the ferocity and persistence of the hate aimed at young Black players is on a different level. The English media isn’t helping either. The coverage of these players is often tinged with subtle, or even blatant, racism. Skelly has already been labelled a “thug” following two send-offs this season. One of these red cards, against Wolves, was overturned after being deemed one of the worst refereeing decisions of the year. The other? A last-man tackle with no dangerous behaviour involved. Yet the narrative remains: he’s a problem, an arrogant player who “needs to be put in his place.” Skelly’s calm, composed nature on the pitch is completely ignored by his critics. They latch onto moments, like his Haaland-inspired celebration after Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Manchester City. In the previous match, Haaland publicly humiliated Skelly, asking, “Who the f*** are you?” on national television, and yet it’s Skelly who has been vilified for responding with confidence. There’s a clear double standard at play.
Embed from Getty ImagesFootball is never a reason to abuse someone, and neither is the way someone looks. Yet every weekend, we see Black players being targeted. Wesley Fofana recently received racial slurs after his foul on Declan Rice in the Chelsea-Arsenal derby. A quick scroll through X reveals a cesspool of overt racism, homophobia, and transphobia. These platforms are failing to address the sheer volume of hate speech aimed at athletes, allowing this toxicity to fester.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo why is Lewis-Skelly, a talented, hard-working, and composed young player, facing this abuse? Is it simply because he’s Black, confident, and rising through the ranks? The pattern is undeniable, and it’s high time we confront it.
Myles, enjoy your call-up. You’ve earned it. Don’t let the hate drown out your success.
