Siddhant Dawkare and Avinash Usha Vasant | Sports are special. People often deny the presence of politics in sports and prefer to view them solely as games. However, politics is always intertwined with sports. The 2024 UEFA European Football Championship was special for a very different reason. This year, Euro was dominated by the players of African origin. Out of 44 players who started in the semifinal, 23 were of african origin. The majority of these players are refugees, some refugees of the second generation. 

Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who shone in the semifinals and final for Spain, are also of African origin and second-generation refugees. Yamal’s parents were refugees in the city of Memeli, which is a part of Morocco but a Spanish territory. Williams’ parents crossed the entire Sahara Desert to eventually reach Spain.

Both of their struggles are immense. 9 players of France were of African descent. Kylian Mbappe, the French superstar may have not had the best of tournaments, but he was determined to win the 2022 world cup and ended so close. If it was not for Emiliano Martinez to save a last-minute shot from another African descent player Randol Kolo Muani, France would have been champions of the world. It is important to mention it here because Kolo Muani was trolled by the right-wing supporters at that time. 

It was a redemption tournament for England’s Bukayo Saka who was amongst the players who missed their penalties in the last Euro finals and faced racial backlash. There are "many out there waiting for a negative moment" such as a penalty miss to target England's black players, said former Kick It Out chief Troy Townsend. But for the disbelief of those seeking that moment England beat Switzerland 5-3 on penalties in the quarter finals with all five penalty scorers coming from African descent.

Cole Palmer (who is of Afro-Kittitian descent on his father’s side of the family, after his grandfather emigrated to the UK in the 1960s) scored England's first penalty against Switzerland before Jude Bellingham (whose father is of Barbadian descent), Saka (born to Nigerian parents), Ivan Toney (of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines descent) and Trent Alexander-Arnold (Whose mother is of Jamaican descent.) also converted. Additionally, 7 players with African descent played in semifinals for Netherlands. 

However, this progress was not always the case. Racism has a long-standing history in football with earliest instances dating back to early 1900s when Arthur Wharton, a migrant from Ghana became the first black professional footballer in the United Kingdom.

Wharton playing for Sheffield United at that time, would be subjected to racist remarks not only from his fellow white competitors but the commentators as well who regularly referred to his skin color. Wharton paved the way for other pioneers like Rabbi Howell, the first Romany footballer to play for England. Howell was signed by Sheffield and made 192 appearances between 1890 and 1898.

Another fascinating story is of Viv Anderson, the first black footballer to represent England in a senior international match in the 1970s.

Another fascinating story is of Viv Anderson, the first black footballer to represent England in a senior international match in the 1970s. He rose through the ranks of Nottingham Forest’s youth programme, making more than 300 appearances for his home team and 30 for his country, and twice winning the European Cup (forerunner to the Champions League). Despite being a top player, Anderson faced racist onslaught from the National Front who regularly visited football games and jeered racist remarks at Black players.

Some Black footballers even received death threats – one player had a petrol bomb thrown through his front door and another had a bullet sent to him in the post (Journey to Justice, 2024). Today, Anderson is regarded as a legend of the game who led the way for future generations of Black footballers. Yamal and Williams have an opportunity to bring about a larger change.

Coming years, these two will be faces of Spain’s national team. But the success of Yamal and Williams will increase the number of people of African descent coming to Europe just for football. Many spend a lot of Euros as they travel to Europe, while others are tricked into having their documents seized and employed as bonded laborers in the fields of Spain and Portugal. 

This year, Europe hosts elections in five major countries, two of which are already over. These elections have been plagued by racism and outrage over refugee policies from the right-wing ideologists. In response, French captain Kylian Mbappe urged the youth of France to defeat ‘extremist forces.’ did not take any names while making these statements but sought to influence the young voters. He added that it was a pivotal moment for the youth and the people to defeat divisive forces.

There are many examples of cricketers contributing to reducing racism. One of them is Makhaya Ntini, who ran on the streets of Johannesburg at a time when it was difficult for Black people to even walk freely. Ntini was the first ethnically black player to play for South Africa and his perseverance and success in cricket not only broke racial barriers but also inspired the next generation of black players in South Africa like Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada.

There are many examples of cricketers contributing to reducing racism. One of them is Makhaya Ntini.

Sports have a very important socio-political character, and more often than not, they promote harmony. However, they also highlight the deep-rooted issues in society. 

In India, caste differences have dehumanized athletes for years. This culture of indifference is often visible in those who follow sports as well, where biases and prejudices still play a role in the recognition and support of athletes. The stories of Dalit athletes like Palwankar Baloo, who despite his exceptional skills in cricket, faced untouchability, remind us of the long-standing challenges that need to be addressed.

Going ahead, as Indian football grows through its systems, it is our collective duty to make it as inclusive as it can be. The earlier we start, the better. Creating pathways for marginalized communities, ensuring equal opportunities, and fostering an environment that celebrates diversity are essential steps. By doing so, we not only uplift the sport but also contribute to a more just and equitable society.

Siddhant Dawkare is a research student at TISS, Tuljapur.

Avinash Usha Vasant is an Author, Commentator.