Research

Published 16 April 2009

Some of the growing number of English county cricketers of Asian ethnicity say they have experienced racist comments from fans and occasionally from other players, new research claims.

A study due to be presented to the British Sociological Association's annual conference in Cardiff (Saturday 18 April), says that those of Asian ethnicity are often under pressure to not report it or to underplay its effects.

Dr Daniel Burdsey interviewed around half of the 25 or so British-Asian first-class cricketers, and six British-Asian cricket coaches for his paper 'Obscured by the sight screen? English cricket, British-Asian identities and colour-blind racism'.

He notes that detailed testimonies from individual players included "reports that on-field occurrences of racism have been covered up by captains and match officials". He also notes among spectators various examples of comments such as Muslim players being mocked for their beards or their names.

Dr Burdsey says the situation is complex – about half of those he spoke to told him racist comments were prevalent, and some denied that it occurred, while others were reluctant to talk about it at all.

But he concludes: "At the present time, it is the significant number of British-Asians participating at elite level that is often cited as evidence that discrimination is no longer a central factor in shaping the opportunities and careers of minority ethnic players."

"Allegations of racism have frequently been rebuffed by the English cricket establishment, with its members arguing that the game has long shed its colonial baggage and white, upper-class ethos."

"While racism may not prevent players breaking into and succeeding in cricket, it remains ingrained in certain everyday, interpersonal relations and locker-room banter within the English professional game."

In his presentation to the conference, Dr Burdsey, of the University of Brighton, will quote various players as saying they have had racist comments from other cricketers:

"I think it was three years ago, after [the July 7 tube bombings]. When I played in club games. I had a few comments. Well, it was one of my team-mates. They were making jokes, you know, 'bomber' and that."

"You do hear racist comments [from other players]. Some players take it as a racist comment. Guys who, you know, would probably swear they've never said it but it does happen…it comes from five per cent, one or two players per team maybe, someone will say it and someone else will laugh about it."

"I've heard instances of players being racially abused [by another player]…umpires and the captains have got together and quashed a situation and given someone a slap on the wrist and a word in their ear."

"I get the feeling it's players and umpires, they don't want to make an issue of it just in case it blows out of proportion, so a lot of it is then just quashed and, you know, pushed aside so that it's not made a big issue about it."

Dr Burdsey also quotes several players who say that they have experienced or witnessed comments made by other players about Asians' cultural practices and attributes, such as their clothing, prayer arrangements, living with their parents and having beards.

He also quotes various players as saying they have had racist comments from spectators:

"You hear comments now and again, but it's not a deep down, deep issue problem. It's there, but not in the sense where it's being slapped in your face. I've heard it from the crowd one or two times, but, you know, there's not a lot you can do about it to be honest with you. You can go and tell the captain, 'I'm getting some stick over there, stick me somewhere else or tell the umpire'. But [the reply is], 'Don't worry about it. It's nothing'. And you ignore it because you become almost deaf to what people are saying."

Dr Burdsey writes that it is likely that British-Asian players often do not report racist comments not because they are avoiding facing up to its reality, but because they "they identify the existence of racism, but are resigned to the fact that they lack the power to eradicate it."

"There is also the perturbing belief amongst some minority ethnic sports people that there is little point in reporting racism because it will not be taken seriously and perpetrators will likely go unpunished."

"The dominant sporting belief that locker-room banter is part of the game therefore serves to normalise discriminatory practices...ultimately a 'tolerance zone' is created in which certain levels of racism are trivialised, ignored and ultimately exculpated."