The photo that caused a racial debate in England – 10/27/2023 – Marina Izidro

On a sunny day in London, 27 women pose smiling for a photo.

They have reason to be happy and proud of themselves. They are part of Arsenal’s professional team and are the stars of the Women’s Super League (WSL), the first division of English women’s football in the 2023/2024 season. Among them is the Brazilian Gio Queiroz. There is no doubt that they deserve to be there. But not everyone was satisfied when they saw the photo. The reason? All players are white.

The fact that the squad does not have black or ethnic minority athletes generated criticism of the club, which traditionally values ​​diversity among employees and the men’s team. Arsenal quickly spoke out, acknowledging the issue and stating that diversity and inclusion are a priority.

Both are fundamental in all sectors of our lives. But the incident sparked a debate about the extremely competitive environment of professional sports. When talking about the case, a black commentator on a conservative British channel said: “If you want to win, choose the best players. It’s as simple as that. In athletics, do you need to have a white guy? Of course not.”

Discussions about inclusion in women’s football have been going on for a few years in the United Kingdom, and I see similarities with Brazil. The coach of the England team, Sarina Wiegman, has already been questioned about the lack of diversity in her squad – with only three players who are not white. “This won’t be resolved overnight”, lamented the coach of the Euro champion and world finalist team. Emma Hayes, Chelsea women’s coach, recalled, in a critical tone, that football for women in England is a “middle class sport”, with the majority being white in the country.

There are some explanations for this lack of diversity.

When we talk about national talent, the big problem is not the end of the line, professional sport, but who has a chance of getting there. It is the origin.

English men’s football is so diverse also because it has always been popular. Women were banned from playing professionally in England for almost 50 years, until 1970. Heavy investment in women’s football began just over ten years ago. Initiatives by the football federation to, for example, identify talented girls in less favored areas show the desire to make the sport reach all classes.

Data from the Professional Players’ Association indicates that only 15% of WSL players are black or from ethnic minorities. In many clubs, the recruitment structure for women is smaller than for men. When hiring professionals, the focus, of course, is to try to bring in the best in the world. This still comes up against, for example, the fact that some places in Africa and South America are still developing their women’s football, which makes it difficult to identify talent.

Another challenge is encouraging girls to play sports. British studies show that women are more likely to abandon physical activities than boys, due to a lack of parental support and confidence, shame about their bodies in adolescence, and pain when they start menstruating.

When managers and governments create opportunities for access to sport from childhood, girls from all backgrounds will be able to compete on an equal footing when seeking a place in high performance. There are still a few years to go before diversity and inclusion are truly present in women’s professional football, but the path here seems to be being followed.

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