‘Toxic masculinity is ruining football for everyone’

For me, football has always been a tool for communication. I was a cripplingly shy child but being able to have a mutual ground from which to start a conversation was a godsend. My confidence may have grown as I’ve gotten older, but using football as a conversational safety net hasn’t faded. It has always unlocked social doors for me and filled awkward silences. Sitting next to someone to watch a match at a pub or exchanging a glance of mutual understanding on the Tube when you’re both wearing the same team shirt makes you feel included in something bigger than yourself.

The men in my life haven’t always been the best communicators – nor the most emotionally in tune – and I’ve seen how the sport has allowed them to express whirlwind emotions without judgement. It might have been deemed ‘unmanly’ to cry over a bad situation at work, but crying over winning the league or a cup? That was permissible. But watching The Final: Attack on Wembley is a stark reminder that the game is also used to licence anti-social behaviour too.

The Netflix film documents the postponed Euro 2020 final and the chaos that ensued when 6,000 ticketless fans stormed Wembley Stadium, fuelled by drugs and alcohol. I sympathise with the die-hard fans who can’t afford tickets due to elitist pricing, but many would rather cause pandemonium on the Wembley steps and miss the game entirely than actually participate in any sort of sportsmanship, which is pure insanity to me as a real fan.

One of my earliest memories of being an Arsenal supporter was attending a North London derby game against our rivals Tottenham at our old Highbury ground and seeing grown men beat the sh*t out of each other. It opened my eyes to the brutality of being a football supporter but also made me look around and realise from an early age, I was always going to be in the minority by being a female fan. I’ve witnessed the culture change a lot over my twenty-odd years of being a supporter; heavy police presence might now always be circling the stadium, but I can’t remember the last time I saw blood drawn, which is something. I’ve also noticed a huge shift in female attendees at matches. But it’s a different picture when it’s a national game.

‘toxic masculinity is ruining football for everyone’

the-final-attack-on-wembley-toxic-masculinity-in-football

Attack on Wembley starts with the lead-up to kick-off and features interviews with two people who didn’t get tickets but still showed up anyway. While one fan desperately admitted “I was prepared to spend what I earned in a month on a ticket for that game,” to justify his presence at the stadium, others didn’t seem as football-focused. “I’d rather just go [to Wembley] for the party, to be honest,” said another. However, the ticketless fans and huge crowds quickly got out of hand, which is where the footage gets more harrowing. Nothing seems to permit antisocial behaviour quite like an England shirt. It’s patriotism at its worst.

‘toxic masculinity is ruining football for everyone’

the-final-attack-on-wembley-toxic-masculinity-in-football

Scenes of vandalism, drug use and violence were just a few of the clips shown in the documentary. While it might be a case of just a few bad apples – or thousands of them in the case of that particular Euros final, fuelled by the cabin fever of lockdown and post-pandemic social struggles – the issue is that the majority of football supporters refuse to challenge this behaviour. Toxic masculinity such as violence, thuggish behaviour and discrimination has become tolerated – accepted even – as part of big competitions. The film also highlights the racist abuse the three Black players who missed the penalty shoot-out; Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho had to endure after the match.

Even the women’s game isn’t immune to toxic masculinity. When Spain won the Women’s World Cup last year, their success was completely overshadowed by the President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation's predatory behaviour when he kissed player Jennifer Hermoso on the lips without consent. Luis Rubiales will now stand trial for the alleged sexual assault.

‘toxic masculinity is ruining football for everyone’

jenni hermoso and luis rubiales kiss photo

Even players have admitted this behaviour is an issue that needs to be addressed. Former Manchester United captain Patrice Evra has openly criticised toxic masculinity and the violence that ensues within the game, saying “It’s difficult to talk. Especially in football where there is such toxic masculinity. If a player came and said: ‘This happened to me,’ you don’t want to play with that player. Even crying in football is not allowed. If I had spoken out when I was a player I don’t think I would have been treated with the same respect”, while Blackpool forward Jake Daniels – the only active openly gay football player – admits to still facing homophobic abuse on social media after coming out two years ago. The issue is clearly systemic.

The problem isn’t just limited to the football hooligans who travelled to Wembley. Statistics show that incidents of domestic abuse increase by 26% if England play a game. This increases to 38% if they lose and 11% the day after a match, whether they win or lose. On 11th July 2021, the day of the Euros final, there was a recorded 10% increase in reported incidents.

As someone whose life during the Premier League season revolves around the game, I never lose sight of the fact that it remains just that, a game. It should be a common ground that unites – not divides – us all. I hope the harmful ‘ lad culture’ fades as teams and fans become more inclusive. The fandom for women’s sports may not be at the same level (yet) but it speaks volumes that we don’t ever hear of these types of scenes after tournaments. The positivity surrounding the women's game should set a beaming example of how great football fandom has the potential to be.

OTHER NEWS

15 minutes ago

The great state school squeeze begins as Labour plans VAT on fees: Almost ALL secondary places are already taken in some areas - find out if yours is among them with our interactive tool

15 minutes ago

See the Northern Lights... from space! Stunning video filmed by NASA astronaut shows a brilliant green aurora from 250 miles above Earth

15 minutes ago

Royal Ascot revellers don their finest frocks and statement hats as they kick off the first day

16 minutes ago

Energy Performance Certificates are 'inaccurate', says consumer champion Which?

16 minutes ago

Natural gas price surges amid optimism as AI boom raises demand

17 minutes ago

BBC release statement after Gary Lineker appears to break golden rule at Euro 2024

17 minutes ago

BJP keen to retain LS Speaker's post

17 minutes ago

Georgia captain Guram Kashia: ‘When I wake up I listen to Football Weekly’

17 minutes ago

Florian Wirtz's dad opens up on transfer chances after Liverpool call

17 minutes ago

Innovative Reactor Designs Boost CO2 Mineralization Efficiency Using Fly Ash

17 minutes ago

Sharon Stone and Sharon Osbourne at 'The Bikeriders' premiere

17 minutes ago

ActionSA calls for more effective opposition

17 minutes ago

Microsoft extends rally with a record-breaking stock market value

17 minutes ago

Mzansi is beaming with pride as local actress Masali Baduza makes a cameo appearance in ‘Bridgerton’ season 3

17 minutes ago

Bill Gates’ great $1B commitment to nuclear energy should be a wake-up call to climate progressives

17 minutes ago

Young woman dressed in black with tattoos hunted by police after boy, 12, on his way home from school was brutally attacked in attempted robbery

17 minutes ago

Britons cut back on spending despite fall in grocery inflation, says Kantar

17 minutes ago

Crystal Palace FC academy given permission for floodlights despite 'long suffering' neighbours

17 minutes ago

The Apprentice Is the Skeleton Key to Understanding Trump

17 minutes ago

Trump’s enablers in Congress are a fascinating case study of political amnesia

17 minutes ago

Three killed in horror crash in Queensland’s Western Downs identified

17 minutes ago

Replace your Microsoft 365 subscription with a $50 Microsoft Office lifetime license

17 minutes ago

TRAFFIC ALERT: Wreck with lost load has all lanes of Southwest Freeway closed at Bissonnet

17 minutes ago

New private home sales drought continues in May in absence of major new launches

17 minutes ago

Mbappe or not, Dutch still expect full French force

17 minutes ago

Southgate's England look to be better against Eriksen-inspired Denmark

17 minutes ago

Ukraine to receive Frankenstein air defense tank from Rheinmetall

17 minutes ago

‘The ball is in love with him’: teenage Arda Guler ready to star for Turkey

23 minutes ago

When is Dua Lipa performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury and how to watch

23 minutes ago

Exclusive: more than half of voters want Jeremy Corbyn back in the Labour party

23 minutes ago

Why Ralf Rangnick’s Austria should still be your dark horses at Euro 2024

24 minutes ago

Lionel Messi hat-tricks

24 minutes ago

Soccer-Relentless Kante more than justifies France recall

24 minutes ago

Tories urge Labour to rule out scrapping council tax referenda

24 minutes ago

Soccer-England's gritty win over Serbia good for team spirit, Southgate says

24 minutes ago

Rassie Erasmus makes unexpected call on Springbok captaincy

24 minutes ago

'He was nowhere in picture': Ajit Agarkar, Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma rewarded for 'suddenly' scouting India youngster

24 minutes ago

Liverpool fans fume at Premier League's 'agenda' against Arne Slot's first season

24 minutes ago

Jaylen Brown Earns New Nickname After Winning NBA Finals MVP

24 minutes ago

Moment 1,000-tonne trawler ploughs into tiny boat despite screams of fishermen in dramatic hit-and-run smash in the English Channel