June 09, (THEWILL) – Arsenal legend Ian Wright and Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton have slammed the English media over accusations of “endemic racial discrimination” in its portrayal of the national football team. The criticism erupted after Bukayo Saka’s image was prominently featured across outlets covering England’s surprise 1-0 defeat to Iceland in their final Euro 2024 warm-up match.
Posting on his X account, Wright condemned the media’s fixation on the black Arsenal forward, who played just 25 minutes, as the “face of defeat”. The former striker claimed this showed a “racist approach in making black players” scapegoats and urged fans to “get behind & support these young people” rather than allow “gas lit…justifications” over the biased framing.
Echoing Wright’s concerns, Hamilton reposted a message on Instagram accusing the English media of “systemically vilifying Black players” and demanding accountability. “The constant scapegoating of Black players needs to stop,” the post stated.
The backlash shines a light on long-running concerns over racist narratives toward black England players from sections of the media. Ahead of this summer’s Euro 2024 finals in Germany, the comments represent a call for fans to reject discriminatory coverage and unite behind their team.
With just weeks until the tournament kicks off, the governing bodies and media outlets now face pressure to address the allegations of “endemic racial discrimination” head-on. How they respond could prove pivotal in shaping the atmosphere around England’s campaign.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
