{"id":8252,"date":"2022-11-25T14:14:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-25T14:14:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/?p=8252"},"modified":"2023-01-17T13:09:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-17T13:09:23","slug":"more-must-be-done-to-eliminate-racism-in-football-say-campaigner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/satellite.mmu.ac.uk\/northernquota-old\/more-must-be-done-to-eliminate-racism-in-football-say-campaigner\/","title":{"rendered":"More must be done to eliminate racism in football, says campaigner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo by Peter Glaser<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a>

A former professional football player says more action must be taken on racism and mental health in football. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the FIFA World Cup<\/a> taking place alongside Men’s Health Month<\/a>, players say there has never been a better opportunity to discuss the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Racist abuse in football has a severe mental health impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ex-professional football player Krishnan Patel, 30, from Bolton, says there’s more to be done to stop racism and improve accessibility in football culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/talestoinspire\/status\/1587436635750367235\n<\/div>
Twitter: @talestoinspire<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

He said: \u201cInstantly, I felt different.

\u201cI didn\u2019t admit that I was racially abused until I was 27 years old. I didn\u2019t want to show weakness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I didn\u2019t want to say, \u2018I\u2019m a victim\u2019. I didn\u2019t want to tell everyone I\u2019d been racially abused. I just thought I\u2019d try harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople would say to me, \u2018I didn\u2019t expect someone like you to play so well\u2019. Well, why? What do you mean someone like me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat had a big effect on my mental health, as well. I always felt different. There was no one who looked like me playing football, no one I came across who was like me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘I didn\u2019t admit that I was racially abused until I was 27 years old. I didn\u2019t want to show weakness’<\/p>Krishnan Patel<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are so many Asian people playing football, so many in the North West of England, loads and loads and loads, and I never played against another, not another single Asian footballer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“They\u2019re playing. Why aren\u2019t they being recruited and going into the spaces they should be? Why can\u2019t they be welcome in this environment?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they truly cared about Asian footballers and the minority. They\u2019d realise equality doesn\u2019t work. There\u2019s no point treating me equally; I needed extra support. If we treat everyone equally, we\u2019re saying we\u2019re all at the same starting point. I was not at the same starting point – I needed extra help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘Mental health is a big buzzword, but actions speak louder than words. The system is so broken’<\/p>Krishnan Patel<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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