Players views
Top footballers against racism in football and society.
News from the Bench - Top stars talk about racism
An introduction by Shaka Hislop
In a year that has seen the passing of some true 'greats' of the English game, George Best, Ron Greenwood, and most recently Peter Osgood, I can't help but wonder what exactly made these men stand out from the rest? What did they have that the rest of us mere mortals don't? I could come up with only one answer, an acceptance that being just 'good' wasn't enough. This to me, as a professional myself, is exactly what makes this game 'great'.
But then there are 'the -not-so-greats' of our game. Racism in the Spanish game has reared its ugly head yet again. Recently the Barcelona and Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o had to be restrained from leaving the pitch at Real Zaragoza after persistent racist taunts and chants from sections of the home support. The debate about racism in sport and particularly in Spanish football was played out in the world's media.
It seemed like yesterday when we were doing just that after every black English player was greeted by monkey chants while representing their country in a friendly international against Spain at the Bernabau, in addition the Spanish coach Aragones allegedly made some particularly distasteful comments to Antonio Reyes about his black team-mate Thierry Henry. It was left to Spanish football executive Mr.Villars to defend Aragones and the Spanish game.
Again after this latest incident it was left to Villars to defend the
indefensible. He said on racism- "you keep it in the football family,
it is only a minority problem and it is a negative, we should concentrate
on the positives of football", which some may argue is good enough.
Football truly is a family, a family in which we all have our roles, we all have our responsibilities, whether you're a player, a fan an official or an administrator, whether you support a big club or you're in love with your home-town club, whether you play Sunday league or you watch football on a Sunday down your local pub. Each member of this family has a responsibility to each other and that is to make this family better, happier, to make the whole family great. If there is one thing we can learn from the legends left by Best, Greenwood and Osgood it is never accept 'good enough' when 'great' is within our reach.
As I write, SRTRC are happy to announce an increase in government funding to continue their work here in England, Scotland and also in Denmark. As proud an achievement in recognition of our work as that is, far more importantly it shows the family are working hard to make each other even better. It is a resounding recognition of this game's greats and the lessons they have taught us. Great is very much within our reach.
By Shaka Hislop
