ESLJ Volume 2 Number 1 Book Reviews
FOOTBALL AND RACISM - ITS HISTORY AND FUTURE
Racism and Anti-Racism in Football
by Jon Garland and Michael Rowe.
Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2001.
Pp.232, £14.99 (pb),
ISBN 0 333 96422 5.
Reviewed by:
MARK JAMES
School of Law,
Manchester Metropolitan University
This excellent book by Jon Garland and Michael Rowe approaches the potentially explosive topic of racism in football in a thought-provoking, yet accessible, manner. It combines historical contextualisation of the subject with a theoretical overview of the issues involved and original research with discussion and evaluation.
Extracts from interviews conducted with those connected with football and quotes from past and present players about instances of racism that they have witnessed, or been the subject of, appear throughout the text. This lends the book an added level of relevance, demonstrating that this is not merely an academic problem of minor interest but a phenomenon that is ongoing despite the best efforts of those involved with the various anti-racism campaigns.
The book begins with an historical review of black footballers in Britain. It traces the careers of the first black players and the changes in attitude towards them that have occurred over the years. Of particular note is that their treatment reflected not just overt racism, or that which is specifically designed to be abusive, but also that which is often considered by those doing it to be just a bit of fun. Thus, everything from Cyrille Regis's description of monkey chants, banana throwing and threatening letters (p.1), to the chanting of 'He's got a pineapple on his head' at Jason Lee on (p.187), are covered. This last point also highlights a recurrent theme of the book: the role of the media in the construction of race, identity and racism. For example, the Jason Lee chant was started on the popular TV programme 'Fantasy Football' as what the presenters thought would be a bit of harmless fun.
This leads into one of the other main themes of the book, that there is a lot more to race and racism that what 'everyone' knows about it - that its only done by skin-headed thugs. They discuss institutional racism, elusive racism and the racism of stereotypes. The important point that the writers make is that it is not just the abusive chanting of the few that needs to be addressed. Racism extends to include ideas that Asians cannot play football, Africans are tactically inept and all foreigners are at best poor sports and at worst cheats. The writers highlight how these misconceptions add to the problems faced by many players who are either denied access to the sport, as both players and spectators, or whose participation in sport is not taken seriously because of their ethnicity.
From a lawyer's point of view, I would have liked to have seen a greater degree of criticism of the existing legal provisions in this area, many of which are merely window dressing. The lack of use of, for example, section 3 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991, which is supposed to outlaw racist chanting at football matches, is disturbing and leaves the provision vastly overvalued as an anti-racism tool. If it does not work, then it should be replaced. Simply not using it to control racist chanting should not be an option. In contrast to this, the discussion of the successful anti-racism schemes implemented by a number of clubs is both interesting and heartening. That racism is accepted as a problem that first exists and second can and should be beaten should lead to these schemes being held up as models of how all clubs should operate.
My only minor criticism of the book is that at times it mixes discussions of football hooliganism in general with the discussions of racism in football. Although the authors themselves acknowledge this as a necessary evil, sometimes it can detract from the issues at hand. Some wider context of 'hooligan' behaviour is important, however, and this is more than adequately provided by the authors. Perhaps instead they could have contrasted the racist and race-related behaviour of football fans with that of cricket and other sports' fans in more detail. This would be particularly relevant in the light of the Cricket Disorder Report of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
This book would be ideal for students of sport in any of its disciplines - law, sociology, history, politics and media. Its easy and informative style would also make it an interesting book for any football fan interested in the game at large. It is well set out and the conclusion sections at the end of each chapter are particularly useful.
The final chapter brings all of the previous discussions together, dispelling some of the myths associated with racism and anti-racism in football and proposing a way forward for the future. It also highlights that this needs to be done throughout society and not just in football. One of the best sports books I have read recently, it ends with a warning against any complacency that racism is a thing of the past:
In an era in which many sections of British society are reflecting on the notion of institutional racism there seems little sign that football clubs or the football authorities are interested in considering the extent of unwitting racism that may arise from the policies, practices and cultures of the game. It is to these questions that those engaged in antiracist work must now turn (p.195).
This is a book review published online on March 7th 2005.
Citation: James, Mark, 'Racism and Anti-Racism in Football by Jon Garland and Michael Rowe.', Entertainment and Sports Law Journal (ESLJ) Volume 2, Number 1 <http://www.warwick.ac.uk/go/eslj/issues/volume2/number1/reviews/james/>.
