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Human Rights Abuse Means Sport is Always Going to Be Political
Soccer Still Struggling With Racism, Homophobia
Sports are a pastime, a diversionary activity that takes fans’ minds off the drudgery of their daily lives. In a perfect world, sports would remain separate from politics. However, we don’t live in a perfect world.
Even though many athletes are millionaires, they still have to deal with human rights abuse such as racial profiling and police violence. Gay athletes also struggle for acceptance.
Robbie Rogers, an American player, quit English soccer because of harassment due to his sexual orientation. During the 1980s, English soccer was associated with far-right hooliganism. Far-right actors would often rain abuse on Black players and direct anti-Semitic chants at English club Tottenham Hotspur. (The club is located in an area that was populated by Jews.)
When these kinds of incidents happen, sports (soccer in particular) dips into the political arena. Human rights abuse like this means the government has to get involved.
Kaepernick Was Ahead of His Time
In 2016 American football player Colin Kaepernick decided to take a stand against police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem. He was widely reviled…
