The SEASON Guide To #GALVANISEOURGAME
Marcus Rashford
Sticker illustration 3032 FC
SEASON zine issue 08
Despite the striking consequences of the global pandemic, the impact of lost matchday income and reduced budgets, and the stress of on-off access to pitches and televised matches, some things haven’t changed. In September, Kick It Out’s annual report for the 2019/20 season found that reported discrimination increased by 42 per cent, reported racism increased by 53 per cent, and reported abuse based on sexual orientation went up by 95 per cent in the professional game compared to the previous season. As grassroots matches were cancelled in March 2020, the report compared the season with an equivalent period from the season before and recorded an 11 per cent rise in reports – usually via social media which jumped up 229 per cent.
At the same time, the diversity and inclusion organisation launched a YouGov poll surveying over 1000 fans about their experiences between January 2019 and December 2019. Most tellingly, even though 84 per cent admitted that they’d be able to recognise verbal discriminatory behaviour at a game, 22 per cent said they were unlikely to report discriminatory acts and around half said that it was unlikely that they’d report racist or homophobic abuse directed at players, coaches or match officials.
Stats like these are shocking but unsurprising to marginalised communities in football and society more generally. We all saw how UEFA’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy worked in real-time when Bulgaria fans made monkey noises directed at Black England players in October 2019. FIFA disbanded its anti-racism taskforce in 2016 and doubled its minimum ban for racist behaviour to 10 games in 2019.
“Even though 84 per cent [in a YouGov poll surveying over 1000 fans] admitted that they’d be able to recognise verbal discriminatory behaviour at a game, 22 per cent said they were unlikely to report discriminatory acts and around half said that it was unlikely that they’d report racist or homophobic abuse directed at players, coaches or match officials.”
In the last week alone we’ve seen Black Premier League players being racially abused on social media – Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe, and Anthony Martial, West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers, and Chelsea’s Reece James. We can’t be alone in wondering what’s actually changed since the Black Lives Matter movement reignited following the deaths of Breonna Taylor on 13 March and George Floyd on 25 May. What has happened beyond players taking a knee, RunRepeat’s much-heralded but scarily limited report about racial bias in football commentary (only 80 games from Europe's top four leagues were studied), another seemingly surface-level ‘No Room For Racism’ Premier League campaign, and a voluntary Football Leadership Diversity Code?
We and certain sections of the global football community have already taken matters into our own hands to resolve these ongoing intersectional issues proactively and claim space unapologetically. Phase one for us is elevating revolutionary voices, actions, and SEASON’s status as a creative and inclusive storytelling platform, with every issue and project we do. Phase two is making online guides – The SEASON Guide To Being Anti-Racist And Supporting The Black Community In Football Part 1 and Part 2, and The SEASON Guide To Being Anti-Homophobic and Supporting The LGBTQIA+ Community In Football Part 1 spotlighting people, points of view, and projects we can all refer to, learn from, support and be inspired by.
‘World, the time has come to push the button,’ the Chemical Brothers say rhythmically in their song Galvanise (one inspiration for SEASON zine issue 08) and they’re right when it comes to making permanent changes to the game. However, we’re all aware of how daunting it can be to speak up or how impossible it can feel trying to flip outdated, offensive mindsets en masse. Be honest: when was the last time you challenged an abusive troll online or IRL? Or changed your behaviour to advocate for a cause? It’s much easier said than done, but Covid-19 is no excuse, which leads us to phase three – this!
With all this in mind, and after seeing the successful #FASHIONOURFUTURE community, we’re launching our SEASON zine #GALVANISEOURGAME pledge initiative (and this guide) powered by expert insights from Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Consultant and Nutmegs co-founder, Hayley Bennett. We’re asking you to pick at least one of five pledges – a series of timeless, pragmatic ways that anyone can foster equality, community, transparency, and sustainability in football to address the rise in discrimination and tackle other deep-set issues. Fitting them in should be relatively easy (and fun at times). Most importantly, we can commit to them together!
PLEDGE ONE
Holding people to account for their actions is the most effective way of stamping out discriminatory behaviour whenever you come across it. Say something and challenge the individual to their face, leave a comment under the article or post explaining why it is unacceptable, retweet or share posts (add a trigger warning if necessary) with your thoughts so other people can see it and do the same. Ideally, the offender will be deterred going forward and, if reported to the right person, body or via the Kick It Out app, receive some kind of punishment. The chance of a confrontation may put you off but ignoring it or staying quiet makes you complicit in these harmful actions – no matter your intentions or personal feelings.
To be clear, any treatment that indicates a negative bias against someone or something related to age, race, gender, class, religion, sexuality, disability etc in real life and online is discriminatory. From excluding women or Black, Asian, Ethnic Minority people from workspaces and projects, to ignoring someone’s requested pronouns, to making someone feel unsafe or upset because of their sexual orientation or religion.
You can find more information and resources in our online guides and on the Premier League’s website. This YouTube webinar by Women in Football will help you understand how to recognise unconscious bias and be a better ally.
PLEDGE TWO
Yes, we’re asking you to watch even more football. The more bums on seats (when we’re allowed back in), the more eyes on the game, and the more social media followers and content engagement these teams have, the more sponsors and press coverage they’ll attract, increasing their visibility, quality, and sustainability. Tune in to the increasing coverage of women’s football on TV, read the dedicated news channels online and listen to the specialist radio shows and podcasts. Ask your local pub (when reopened) to show women’s games regularly to get everyone there on-board and support your local grassroots team in person and by buying their merch.
The record 28.1 million people who watched the BBC’s 2019 Women’s World Cup coverage on TV and online proves this approach can work. The perspective that there is no appetite or audience for women's football was totally destroyed and as a result, live women’s games are more readily available and accessible across platforms. A big win, especially with most of men’s football stuck behind a paywall.
Ensure you never miss a game by syncing women’s fixtures to your calendar and watch them for free via the FA Player App. When we’re allowed back in the stadiums, use Football Mapper to find out when your local grassroots team is playing and take a friend along for the ride. Finally, as so many grassroots teams are dishing out cool content, engage with it to support them – start with @rootztv, @romancefc, @victoriaparkvixens and @hackneylaces.
PLEDGE THREE
Without the income generated from match days and more, plus social distancing guidelines limiting or banning in-person gatherings, many football-related projects have found themselves struggling to stay on course. It’s understandable, y’know coronavirus, and moving things online and/or making things free has kept them accessible but hasn’t necessarily plugged the gap.
They need us now more than ever and we know many of you are already donating your time and money to worthy football-related causes. In August, we launched #SEASONUNITY, our first t-shirt collection in collaboration with artists Corbin Shaw, Rosie McGinn and Stephanie Francis-Shanahan, graphic designers Alice Isaac, Dawn Broadbent and Texas Maragh, and illustrators Isobel Mehta and Ruth Davis. An important goal was to actively support football creatives as well as charities and initiatives in these uncertain times and we raised money for everyone involved.
Now’s the time to be smarter and more strategic about where you donate your hard-earned cash and time. Think local and global – where is the donation going (and how transparent is the recipient about that) and who and how is it helping effectively? What short-term and long-term difference will it make and why do you want to support the effort? Do your research – more visible charities and non-profits tend to have sponsors, as well as a steady stream of donations, so anything you can give to those that don’t can mean more. Donating the price of a football ticket or shirt to a community project that uses football for good, like London Football Journeys, is a cool place to start, or providing one-off support if you have specialist skills you can offer. If you see fundraisers for community projects, share them! Even if you don’t have the money or time to spare, your followers might be able to help.
You’ll find a football community project directory on Common Goal’s website and a list of football community projects that support children and young people here. We’ve also included initiatives that accept donations in the SEASON Stars Of 2020 insert that comes with SEASON zine issue 08 – buy it now.
PLEDGE FOUR
We’re used to cheering on the action during a match and clapping to show our support and admiration for the NHS, so what’s stopping us from doing the same for our football community?
Liking a social media post at game-changing moments – when they post extraordinary content, reach a milestone, drop a dope product or innovate something – is just the first step. Share some love in the comments below or slide into their DMs with a compliment. Spread the word about what they are doing by reposting or telling your network (particularly young people to motivate them). Buy their products (leave a review if you can), then share a picture and tag them in a post or story so they can repost. If you’re feeling their event, tag them and the location, then invite more people down.
All of this is invaluable feedback and a lovely confidence boost, validating their progress and empowering them to keep going in these challenging times. These testimonials can also be used when pitching for projects and funding, and the increased visibility can help remove barriers and inspire many more people to take action.
To take things further and really advocate for people you admire in the game, nominate them for awards (and vote for them) like @football.content.awards, @nwfawards, @officialfootieblacklist and The FA and McDonald’s Grassroots Football Awards. The In Her Corner podcast celebrating women working in sport is a powerful listen. Don’t forget to tag them in opportunities for promo and paid work as well.
PLEDGE FIVE
Irresistible football gear drops all the time. We might not be able to commit to not buying any for a year but we can try to offset the environmental damage and actively reduce waste. Around 350,000 tonnes of used clothing ends up in landfill in the UK every year according to waste charity WRAP, and although there isn’t an official figure, one can conclude that a certain percentage must be football-related.
First off, be sure that the new styles you’re coveting are made from sustainable and recycled materials – sportswear brands are innovating here. Check the labels and ensure the brands you support stock eco-friendly products. Buying second-hand and vintage styles, the bangers you maybe missed the first time, is standard thanks to Classic Football Shirts, Hartex, Tens Club and more. You’ll also find preloved hidden gems in charity shops or eBay, where designer Lois Saunders sources the scarves she uses in her creations.
Then rewear what you have as much as possible! Style them up at every opportunity – jerseys are definitely effortless WFH attire if you’re too precious about them to play in or work out in them. Casual Fridays are a thing at many workplaces and ‘Football Shirt Friday’ happens every November to raise money to help Cancer Research UK and the Bobby Moore Fund beat bowel cancer.
Try reworking pieces and upcycling them into something new before you donate them to a charity shop or sell them on (if still in good condition). Watch a tutorial to learn how to customise a football shirt or scarf – SEASON Fashion Director Georgina Hunt posted a 10-step guide on how to make a face mask out of football jersey fabric. When you’re absolutely done with your football gear and you feel it can’t be reworked – recycle it. Investigate what happens to clothing left at textile banks and recycling centres (to make sure they don’t end up as landfill), alternatively, adidas launched a UK buy-back scheme with Stuffstr in 2019 for unwanted clothing from the last five years.
You’ll find more insights and ideas in SEASON zine issue 07 as the theme is sustainability, and we’d recommend following @flykitfriday, #unwntdfc and listening to More Than - With Héctor Bellerín podcast episode 007 with Morten Thorsby.
To make your pledge(s) public and inspire others to take part, screenshot the pledge list (grid or story) linked here, tick what you're planning to do, and post it on your social media feed. Much more than just a box-ticking exercise, the caption should tell your community what you are pledging to do and why, and then nominate three friends to do their own pledge(s). We’re excited to see what you’re able to achieve, so keep us updated by using the hashtag #GALVANISEOURGAME. We’ll repost the best ones on our channels.
Compiled by Felicia Pennant and Hayley Bennett
Artwork by Dawn Broadbent