A Critical Race Theory analysis of the English Premier League

The significant rise in the number of black male professional footballers, who not only compete at the elite level of English football but who are idolised by football fans across the world, coincided with the beginning of the English Premier League (EPL) in 1992. This chapter considers how liberal doctrines have shaped anti-discriminatory practices and policies in elite English football, and explains why liberal approaches to 'race' equality have failed to achieve the outcomes they profess to desire. Racist chanting at football matches and racial slurs uttered during altercations between players are the most easily identifiable instances of racism. Unlike their South Asian counterparts, the transition of black players, despite having fashioned a space within elite football playing cultures, to football management and coaching has been more arduous. In the spirit of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and its promise to elevate the voices of minoritised individuals, it is important to consider testimony from ex-England international John Barnes.