How Colonialism Shaped the Modern Game

Journalist Ronny Blaschke digs for the truth in this groundbreaking study of racism in football and its roots. His hard-hitting investigation spans five continents, assessing the role played by colonialism and how a misguided notion of European superiority still persists. Above all, the question is: how can racism in football be pushed back?

Explosive and groundbreaking study of racism in football and its roots from award-winning journalist Ronny Blaschke.

Racism in football is reduced to neo-Nazis and monkey chants. But if we want to understand its origins, we have to go back further. Drawing on more than 100 interviews from five different continents, this hard-hitting investigation reveals how:

• Colonial powers such as Britain and France wanted to ‘civilise’ their subjects through sport
• Their racial theory has long since been debunked, yet racist thinking still characterises European football today
• Black people are often considered powerful athletes, but rarely get the opportunity to become coaches or board members
• Colonial thinking still persists in talent scouting, sponsorship and the media
• Racism is blighting football in Britain, Brazil, Namibia and India among other places

At the centre of this book are people – players, fans and activists – who stand up to racism with courage and grit. In England, black referees are networking to have a stronger voice. In Brazil, reporters are producing a podcast for Afro-Brazilian issues in sport. Above all, the question is: how can racism in football be pushed back?