Why I Spoke About Black Lives Matter as a Footballer
When athletes were speaking out and some were choosing not to play, people asked whether politics belonged in sport. My answer in this video came from my life as a Black footballer. Equal treatment and the ability to live without racial discrimination affect people on and off the pitch.
It is difficult to separate performance from what a player carries into a match. If somebody is dealing with racism in ordinary life, asking them to leave that behind at kick-off misses the reality of their experience. I do not have the platform of a global star, but I still wanted to use the audience I have to explain why the issue matters to me.
I ask people who have not faced these experiences to listen and ask questions. You do not have to have lived through something yourself to take another person's account seriously. Speaking up is one way I can help the people around me understand why equality matters.
Watch my statement on YouTube.
