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Jalen Sanchez

Mrs. Litle

November 29, 2017

ENG COMP

The Color of your Skin

Soccer is more than just a sport, its a lifestyle that brings the world, from end to end,

together to enjoy the beautiful game of soccer. From a young age, kids dream of stepping onto

the big field wearing their last name on their back and playing for a top premier team. In a recent

search on Big Count Survey, there are 265 million players actively involved in soccer around

the world, roughly four percent of the worlds population. (Kruschewsky) Although no one

going or playing professional soccer wants to be demoralized due to the color of their skin,

everyone laces up their cleats and puts on their uniform all the same way before a game. Players

and fans who contribute or support racism, isnt present at the game to play or watch, they want

to emotionally hurt someone due to the color of their skin. They want to hurt another player

emotionally with words or gestures so they know they dont belong playing the game of soccer,

but being in the zoo because they are monkeys. Unlike any other sport, soccer is played all

around the globe. Soccer even promotes an international tournament to determine the best

country to play the game of soccer. On the other hand, the world today can judge a player based

off their skin color and not the way they play. FIfa needs to do more to stop racism on the field

because when not taken into concern, the problem will never end.
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Webster's dictionary defines discrimination as, a social, economical, political or legal

distinction made between individuals or groups that makes one have the power to treat the others

unfavorably.(Webster) It can also be defined as the act or policy of treating someone

differently, setting them apart or denying them rights because they are different from the

majority. Discrimination of color is known as racism and takes a huge role in soccer across the

globe. Letting the world know who you are based off skill isnt how society judges people now

of days. Being black you have to bring something different to the table. Something different that

any other white player can not bring to the table. No matter if your skin is red, green, black,

white or yellow all that should matter is getting the W and playing the correct way of soccer. No

one should ever be demoralized while playing the game they love, soccer.

No matter the problems faced in 195 countries or how divided people are on current

issues, soccer can take away all the problems for a second in the world. No matter the color of

your skin, the way you play soccer should be the only thing a player should worry about. At

Otero Junior College, in La Junta, Colorado, a player named Gimale Essacu from Port Amnesty,

Papua New Guinea faced discrimination due to being a star player on the field. Gimale Essacu

came from Papua New Guinea to have the chance to go professional in America, since its not as

common in Papua New Guinea. On the field, Gimale got called a monkey and had monkey

noises hollered at him from the bench of Northeastern Junior College. As a victim of this

situation, Gimale was shook and hurt at the end of the game, due to never experiencing racism

like that stating, It bothers me, but hey what can I do about it? I came out to play and put one in

the back of their net. They probably started the comments and the hate because their defense

couldn't keep track of me.(Essacu) . As a kid, Gimale kept a soccer ball at his feet and hoped it
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would allow him to travel the world and in reality it did. The fact that a soccer ball brought

Gimale 7,568 miles to play collegiate soccer, proves that soccer brings the world together. In an

interview Gimale stated,I never thought I would come to America and play soccer, but people

like them ruin all the fun in the game and turn it personal. (Essacu) It wasn't the way he played

that defined Gimale, but the color of his skin did.

In an international tournament across the globe, called the world cup, every country

comes together as one. The world cup, the only big international tournament, is the only big one

sport tournament everyone across the globe gathers and looks forward too. Gimale has traveled

across the world to play the game he loves, he wakes up everyday in motivation to get better, just

like any other professional soccer player. In control, District nine should of took control and

suspended the Northeastern Junior college players. The color of your skin doesn't matter and

where you come from doesnt matter either. In example of Gimale not getting the justice he

deserves, if we don't put a stop to racism, even at the top level, racism will never end. All that

should matter is how bad your country wants the cup and to play the beautiful we call soccer.

People view racism as something thats non hurtful or something that the victim can just

blow off and move on about. Although, people do not realize that what you say can leave a toll

on someone forever. Especially at a young age. Soccer is meant to let people express who they

are with the ball, and not who they are outside of soccer. On the soccer pitch, everyone is there to

play the beautiful game but once racism is expressed it changes the whole aspect of soccer.

Nigerian born, Bobby Adekanye, was faced racial abuse when he was coming on as a substitute

in the 55th minute of the Liverpool vs Spartak Moscow U18 youth game. Beforehand, the game

was played and viewed by the audience like any other soccer game. Although, when Adekanye
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stepped on the field it became a major problem to the Russian fans. Not thinking about

Adekanye, he left the field in a sense of disgust saying, No African player should have to face

this, but this isnt the first time. Im here to play futbol thats it.(Holyman) Imagine being put

into the game for the first time, and when stepping onto the field, grown men and women are

being disrespectful to you and the black culture you value as a whole.In addition to the incident,

Adekanye got justice and the club was forced to ban fans from attending two games. Justice was

provided for Adekanye, but the club and organization should have had to face a more in depth

consequence. Being racist is one thing, although targeting the youth isnt something young talent

should have to face in a game they loved their whole life.

Young talent has emerged all over the world now of days. Especially in the world cup,

with countries having more than six to seven players being from seventeen to nine-teen years

old. New teams are qualifying for the world cup, surprising the world. Although, its the young

talent making the country better. On the other hand, at the youth level Adekanye can get

tormented and racially abused while playing, just imagine what the world cup will hold. In a

previous world cup in 2014, Eniola Aluko, faced discrimination and betrayal of her own

teammates, to a level where it was Aluko vs. World. Aluko was offered money to tell fifa that

the FA was not racist and her own personal incident was all a lie. Reported by SBNATION it

stats, she was asked to take hush money and put out a statement that the FA were not

institutionally racist.(Madu) With more than 10,000 people in attendance in Russia for the 2018

world cup, racism will be a problem players shouldnt have to face at the international level.

Both Adekanye and Aluko, play at the national level and both have faced discrimination.

Without help from FIFA, the 2018 world cup will be heartbreaking to see players faced

discrimination because the color of their skin.

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Racism within soccer is just another target on young colored athletes in soccer because it

is the top international sport across the globe. Although, racism within sports will never die

because no one can view another race as just another human being. Color will forever be an

issue, and always has been an issue we face across the globe. It is sad to even see some counties

where color isnt something as a norm. Seeing another colored person in some countries is like

seeing a shooting star. Sports is overall a hobby, and to see professional players take advantage

of the game and use it a way to express racism isnt what sports are made for. Until Fifa takes a

big role in racism in soccer, racism will stay alive. Unless severe penalties are established and

fines are placed, racism comments and threats will be just another cuss word to players. They are

grown and know what's right from wrong. When expressing racism, a consequence will be

established because color shouldnt matter in any sport, especially professional sports.

Racism in Futbol
Work Cited

Personal interview: Gimale Essacu

Essacu, Gimale. Personal Interview. 4 Dec. 2017
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Article One: Racism scars European soccer with sanctions still often weak

Harris, Rob. Racism Scars European Soccer with Sanctions Still Often Weak. USA
Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 4 May 2017,
www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/05/04/racism-scars-european-soccer-with-
sanctions-still-often-weak/101275822/.

Article Two:
Holyman, Ian, et al. Spartak Moscow Charged over Racist Behaviour in Liverpool
Youth Tie.ESPNFC.com, ESPN, 4 Oct. 2017,
www.espnfc.com/blog/uefa/258/post/3220252/spartak-moscow-charged-over-racist-behaviour-
in-liverpool-youth-tie.

Kruschewsky, Gabriela. Wake Up, America: Here's Why Soccer Is The World's Best
Sport.The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 14 May 2014,
www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/14/soccer-worlds-best-sport_n_5248061.html.

Kazeem, Yomi. FIFA Is Finally Stepping up Its Anti-Racism Measures in Soccer.

Quartz, Quartz, 15 June 2017, qz.com/1007464/confederations-cup-2017-fifa-is-finally-
stepping-up-its-anti-racism-measures-in-soccer/.

Article Three: Eniola Alukos case is a perfect illustration of how institutional racism works

Madu, Zito. Eniola Aluko's Case Is a Perfect Illustration of How Institutional Racism
Works.SBNation.com, SBNation.com, 19 Oct. 2017,
www.sbnation.com/soccer/2017/10/19/16502300/eniola-aluko-england-fa-case-mark-sampson.