Football Crosses the Divide
It’s fairly obvious to anyone (whether you are an avid football fan or never watch the sport), that when looking at England’s Premier League, there is a wealth of experience and skill brought to the table by people who come from a richly diverse heritage. The sport naturally lends itself to bringing people together in a way that breaks down social, cultural, racial, and political barriers. The kind of cultural exchange and innovation that can occur when the barriers are broken also serves a larger social purpose of promoting inclusivity and tolerance, and challenging stereotypes and prejudices. The sport has the power to become a vehicle for social integration, helping to build a more cohesive society.
One of the most significant impacts of both current and historic immigration on UK football is this infusion of talent from around the world. The Premier League boasts players from over 100 different nationalities, and this diversity has not only elevated the quality of play but has also contributed to the league’s global appeal and commercial success.
The Migration Museum in London highlights that without players born outside the UK or with at least one parent or grandparent born abroad, the Euro 2024 England Squad’s starting 11 would be down to just three players. The Museum’s moving and widely covered #footballmovespeople campaign in 2021 showed similar numbers.
It is interesting to note that over half of the 26 players for the Euro 2024 England Squad can represent another country, as they were either born outside of the UK, or have parents or grandparents of different nationalities. Jude Bellingham (mixed African-Caribbean heritage), Marc Guehi (Ivory Coast), Raheem Sterling (Jamaica), Declan Rice (Irish heritage), and Bukayo Saka (Nigerian heritage) are examples of players who bring a multicultural and multiracial pallet to British football, and to the team representing England in this year’s European Cup. Regardless of England’s ultimate performance in the Euro 2024 (could it really, finally be coming home?!) the simple fact is that each of these individuals is exceptionally talented and successful, or they wouldn’t be on this international stage in the first place.
Of the players with a diverse international heritage, two of them (Marc Guehi and Raheem Sterling) were born outside of the UK, and would have been registered or naturalized as British citizens in order to play for England on the international stage. Sky News reports that Guehi is one of only two players on the England Squad that has been playing better for England than for his club. Is this not another piece of evidence that making room for international talent in the UK is vital to keep the UK ‘in the game’?
Arguably, this is the case not just in football, but across every area of sport and in every other sector. With a new Labour Government now establishing itself, it remains to be seen whether their promise of more inwardly focused policies to upskill British youth and workers will allow for a dynamic immigration system that can foster and support a diverse culture and society in the UK, leading and inspiring communities both locally and globally.