English football is under pressure to tackle Islamophobia, after a report revealed the level of abuse directed towards Muslim players in the grassroots game.
Research examined the stories of 40 men and women, aged 19 to 45, who faced anti-Muslim discrimination while playing Sunday league football.
It found players from Muslim backgrounds faced abuse from opposition players, supporters and even their own teammates, because of their religion.
The report said they were "suffering in silence" because of discrimination, which is hampering their progress in the game.
"[Muslim footballers] are waiting for an opportunity and if the opportunity comes, they are not confident enough to go forward with their ambitions", one participant told researchers.
Hostility towards Muslim players is common, with some football fans shouting Islamophobic and racist slurs at players.
"The fans are the worst, they will directly make you feel unwelcome and use verbal racist abuse. We've had fans of the other team shouting 'burn the Quran'," one participant said.
They were also called "Talibans" and bombers and were sworn at.
Players who wore headscarves said they were abused while playing and online, including one woman who said she was called a terrorist and "Bin Laden's daughter" by trolls.
Another female player said she was deliberately "held back" and underestimated by other players because she was wearing a headscarf.
The report from Nottingham Trent University and Birmingham City University, titled: How the 'Beautiful Game' Turned to Hate: Why Islamophobia has creeped into Grassroots Football, is one of the first to examine Islamophobia at football's amateur levels.
"We found the scope of this problem is being hidden because victims are afraid to speak out," said Imran Awan, professor of criminology at Birmingham City University.
The report said the root causes of Islamophobia included a lack of representation of Muslims in top-level football, "trigger events" such as terrorist attacks, and negative reporting of Islam and Muslims in the media.
It pointed out that Muslims are massively under-represented in English professional football, with only 0.3 per cent of elite players from South Asian backgrounds – despite forming 7.5 per cent of the UK population.
“There aren’t many Muslim professional players and you need to ask yourself why,” said one participant.
“That affects us throughout the grassroots level.”
The report also found long-lasting psychological damage to those who suffered Islamophobic abuse.
"I face racism, sexism and Islamophobia. There are times I go home after a match and I cry," a respondent named Huma said.
Another player said they had been to counselling to help deal with the trauma of the abuse.
The authors produced a list of recommendations. The consensus view among participants was that more support was needed from England's Football Association, as well as greater visibility of Muslim role models in football.
"Our aim has been victim-focused and to empower the people we interviewed by giving them a platform whereby they can make suggestions on what should be done to help prevent Islamophobia and racism in grassroots football," said Dr Irene Zempi, a senior lecturer in criminology at Nottingham Trent University.
Britain has long faced the broader issue of racism at its football grounds, despite high-profile campaigns to eliminate abuse.
The report cites data from the anti-racism charity Kick It Out, which showed there were 422 reports of discrimination in 2018-2019, up from 319 the previous year.
Faith-based discrimination – including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism – also rose sharply in this period, with reports increasing from 36 to 63.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
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The five pillars of Islam
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
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Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
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6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
THREE
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Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old
Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai
Favourite Book: The Alchemist
Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail
Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna
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Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman
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How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Biog
Age: 50
Known as the UAE’s strongest man
Favourite dish: “Everything and sea food”
Hobbies: Drawing, basketball and poetry
Favourite car: Any classic car
Favourite superhero: The Hulk original
Top Hundred overseas picks
London Spirit: Kieron Pollard, Riley Meredith
Welsh Fire: Adam Zampa, David Miller, Naseem Shah
Manchester Originals: Andre Russell, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sean Abbott
Northern Superchargers: Dwayne Bravo, Wahab Riaz
Oval Invincibles: Sunil Narine, Rilee Rossouw
Trent Rockets: Colin Munro
Birmingham Phoenix: Matthew Wade, Kane Richardson
Southern Brave: Quinton de Kock
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
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Transmission: 8-speed auto
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Understand What Black Is
The Last Poets
(Studio Rockers)
