Rio Ferdinand’s ascension to the captaincy of the England National Team carries a social significance beyond the football pitch. Ferdinand becomes the first permanent black captain for England. In the past, Paul Ince and Ferdinand have captained the team in one off match situations.
Paul Ince’s first match as captain was a 2-0 loss to the United States in 1993. The significance of that moment was lost by the English press as Graham Taylor’s precarious job security became even great tabloid fodder that summer. At the time, blacks still faced major resistance to being high profile players at some football clubs in England and would face hostility often times on the road.
Seventeen years later, English crowds and clubs demonstrate more genuine tolerance than anywhere else in Europe. (Outside perhaps, Scandinavia) It is against this backdrop, where blacks have been fully integrated in the culture of English football, that Ferdinand has been named captain.
This sort of move could never happen in Spain or Italy, the homes of the other two top Western European leagues. In both countries, black players, continue to struggle with racism, both subtle and overt. Just this past month, National Public Radio in the United States did an audio feature on the racism Mario Balotolli has been subjected too in every Serie A match this season. In Spain, racism though on the decline is still prevalent at many grounds and within the dressing room at many clubs.
Just five years ago, England players were racially abused by a nearly unified Spanish crowd in Madrid. England players have also repeatedly faced racial taunting in Eastern Europe and even sometimes in Holland and France. Even in Holland and France, where several black players have featured in the national team kit, racism is still more ingrained and accepted than in England. For all its other faults, English football has truly become cosmopolitan and a bastion of tolerance, particularly of players whose roots are from Africa and the Caribbean. Perhaps, this more than just purely football reasons explain why so many players of color choose to play in England rather than the leagues of Spain and Italy.
Rio Ferdinand’s ascension to the most visible and important position an English footballer can hold is very important. Even more impressive is the willingness of the English press and supporters to embrace Ferdinand despite his color and without much mention of it. I can assure you, this would be unlikely to happen in many other places.
KARTIK KRISHNAIYER, A FOUNDING PARTNER IN SET PIECE ANALYSTS IS THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS FOR THE NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE.
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