Racism in Football: Heskey's Crusade Against Abuse
Former England striker Emile Heskey has spoken out about the racism he faced during his playing career, and how it motivated him to create an app that allows fans to report abusive behavior at football matches. "Gone are the times when you just ignore abuse," he said. "No. Why should we?"
Heskey's experiences with racism date back to 1999, when he was chased from Leicester City's old Filbert Street stadium by a man shouting racist abuse. He recalls that if he had not spoken out against the racist language, it could have become normalized in football culture.
The issue of racism is particularly prevalent in women's football, according to Heskey. He has worked with Leicester's women's team since 2020 and seen firsthand the impact of racist abuse on female players. "They struggle with attention," he said. "Why are female commentators getting abuse more than anyone else? How can we report it?"
Heskey is also concerned about parental behavior at football matches, citing instances where parents have shouted abuse at their children from the touchline. He believes that this kind of behavior undermines the focus and concentration required for young players to develop their skills.
Despite his passion for creating a safer football environment, Heskey acknowledges that much remains unchanged. Social media has made abusive language more accessible, and reporting incidents often proves difficult. "I don't think much has changed," he said. "If anything, social media has made abuse worse."
To address this issue, Heskey co-created the Football Safety App, which allows fans to report abusive behavior at matches. The app feeds reports to a central hub of security professionals who liaise with stadium staff and police.
Heskey's personal connection to the issue stems from his own sons, Reigan and Jaden, both of whom are promising Manchester City teenagers. He wants to protect them from the same experiences he faced during his playing career.
While Heskey is critical of current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for not making enough changes to address the team's struggles, he also acknowledges that the team needs a new generation of players who can "step up" and dig their teammates out of difficult positions.
Former England striker Emile Heskey has spoken out about the racism he faced during his playing career, and how it motivated him to create an app that allows fans to report abusive behavior at football matches. "Gone are the times when you just ignore abuse," he said. "No. Why should we?"
Heskey's experiences with racism date back to 1999, when he was chased from Leicester City's old Filbert Street stadium by a man shouting racist abuse. He recalls that if he had not spoken out against the racist language, it could have become normalized in football culture.
The issue of racism is particularly prevalent in women's football, according to Heskey. He has worked with Leicester's women's team since 2020 and seen firsthand the impact of racist abuse on female players. "They struggle with attention," he said. "Why are female commentators getting abuse more than anyone else? How can we report it?"
Heskey is also concerned about parental behavior at football matches, citing instances where parents have shouted abuse at their children from the touchline. He believes that this kind of behavior undermines the focus and concentration required for young players to develop their skills.
Despite his passion for creating a safer football environment, Heskey acknowledges that much remains unchanged. Social media has made abusive language more accessible, and reporting incidents often proves difficult. "I don't think much has changed," he said. "If anything, social media has made abuse worse."
To address this issue, Heskey co-created the Football Safety App, which allows fans to report abusive behavior at matches. The app feeds reports to a central hub of security professionals who liaise with stadium staff and police.
Heskey's personal connection to the issue stems from his own sons, Reigan and Jaden, both of whom are promising Manchester City teenagers. He wants to protect them from the same experiences he faced during his playing career.
While Heskey is critical of current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for not making enough changes to address the team's struggles, he also acknowledges that the team needs a new generation of players who can "step up" and dig their teammates out of difficult positions.
i mean dont get me wrong hes right that some fans do get abusive but its not like every single person at the game is shouting racist abuse. and another thing, whats with all these new apps and security measures? cant we just chill for one match without having to report everything we hear? 
. Heskey's app is a great idea, but I'm not convinced it'll make a huge difference. Like, what if the people reporting abuse are just trolls? And even if they're not, who's gonna do anything about it when it happens? The whole system seems to be designed to let abuse slide 
? Like, what kinda parenting skills does that show?
also why didnt liverpool sign him when hes available for free after all those years of service idk i guess hes got more important things on his mind now
I think its so sad that people still use abusive language at football matches 
...I mean, you're there to watch the game with your mates, not to make others feel uncomfortable or hurt 
. Emile Heskey is doing an amazing job by creating an app where fans can report abuse and also making sure security professionals are in touch with stadium staff and police 
...we need more people like him who want to create a safer environment for everyone 
. And yeah, his sons playing football makes me think that he just wants the best for them 
...protecting them from abuse is super important 
...I hope the app does make a difference and more fans speak up when they see something wrong 
!!! IT'S NOT OKAY TO YELL RACIST SLURS OR ABUSE OTHER PLAYERS, COACHES, OR EVEN THE REFEREES!!! EMILE HESKEY IS RIGHT ONCE AGAIN - WE SHOULD NEVER IGNORE ABUSE AND JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH 
. AND TO SEE HIM FIGHTING FOR A SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR WOMEN'S FOOTBALL IS AMAZING 
! THE FOOTBALL SAFETY APP IS SUCH A GREAT IDEA 
. IT'S TIME FOR US ALL TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND RESPECTED AT THE STADIUMS!!!
anyway, i feel 4 heskey tho cuz we need more ppl like him who are actually doin somethin about it 
& that app is a great idea btw, maybe its time for other stadiums 2 follow suit 
It's time we take action. The Heskey app is just one step in the right direction 
. But let's talk numbers 
In 2022 alone, there were over 13,000 reported incidents of racism and discriminatory behavior in football matches across England and Wales 
.
. We need education, awareness, and action from the top down 
.
In 70% of cases where parents have been reported for abusive language at a match, they've received a ban or fine 
and as a parent myself, its terrifying to think about your child going through something like this... my sons are still so young and innocent, i just want to protect them from all the hurtful things in life 
I think Emile Heskey is doing a great job in bringing attention to this important issue, especially with his experience being chased from the stadium back in 1999 
. It's crazy how much racism has become normalized in football culture, and how it affects female players like the ones he works with 
.
... and I guess that's why I think Heskey's app is a good start, but it's also a reminder that we need more than just tech solutions to fix our problems 
. but at the same time, it also makes me think about how hard it must be to keep pushing for change when so much of the system seems to be stuck in place 
. like, don't get me wrong, Heskey is doing amazing work, but can we really expect to see real change if we're not willing to have some tough conversations about our own complicity in these systems? 
? heskey's app is a great idea tho 
. i feel bad for female players though, they seem to get hit with even more abuse 
. anyway, lets hope heskey's app makes a diff and starts to change some of these toxic attitudes 
like, why aren't stadiums and leagues implementing stricter policies on racist behavior? 
. anyway, i'm glad heskey is speaking out and using his platform for change 
They shout at their kids from the touchline, and some even send nasty texts afterwards! 
That's some serious cash just because someone can't handle seeing a girl do some sick soccer moves. We need to get our priorities straight and focus on creating a safe space for all fans - male, female, parent, or player! 
. Heskey should get a lot of credit for speaking out and taking action tho 
. Can't say I agree with him about Klopp tho, think he's just trying to stir up drama