Brendon Batson calls on football authorities to step up fight against racism

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Brendon Batson has called on footballing leaders to step up and ‘do more’ in their fight against racism and discrimination.

The former Arsenal man became the first black player to play for the club in 1971.

He also went on to play for West Bromwich Albion, where he was a pioneering figure in combating racism alongside Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham.

Upon retiring he played a significant role in the development of anti-racism charity ‘Kick It Out’.

The 72-year-old believes that the sport’s governing bodies need to do more in terms of leadership.

He said: “We talk about politics, starting from the top, I think FIFA got to do a lot more. It does start from the top; FIFA are in charge of the game.

“You know, we have FIFA, all the governing bodies, UEFA, National Association, the FA. I think they've got to do a lot more in terms of leadership.

“You know, I can't think of the top of my head now, but I do think the players should be invited to be much more involved in Kick It Out.

“The games about players. I always remember a teammate of mine, Peter Barnes saying to me one day in the dressing room, ’It's all about players Brendon. Isn’t it? It’s all about the players, good players, etc’.

“And I do believe that that's what we need.

“We need to have people who, and I'm not just talking about high profile, but that does help, people have been involved in the game who have been through it.

“[People] who, until you walk in somebody's shoes, you don't understand what it means to have 5000, 10,000, 50,000, whatever it may be, one person shouting abuse at you as a black player.

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“You know, we've got a much more multiracial, multicultural game now than we had many, many years ago.

“So, I do think that the authorities should be encouraging current and former players to be more active.

“The danger for current players lifting their head above the parapet, they go and they say things and then next thing you know the crowd are getting at him.

“We saw what happened in the EUROs when the black players missed, had penalties saved.

“You know, the online abuse now is rife and it's really shocking.

“But if they have the backing of the clubs, the authorities, I think they'll have much more of a positive impact than it is at the moment.”