Dr. Jacco van Sterkenburg, endowed professor of football and racism at the Erasmus School of History, Culture & Communication, recently responded to a controversial survey conducted by the German public broadcaster ARD. The survey asked German football fans if they preferred to see more white players in the national team, leading to outrage and debate.
In an interview with Algemeen Dagblad, Van Sterkenburg emphasized the complexity of racism in sports: "By asking such a question as a medium, you are already creating commotion and division. At the same time, you are putting the issue of discrimination on the agenda." He is not surprised by the survey results, which indicate that 21 percent of respondents want more white players in the national team. "In the Netherlands, similar results could be possible. I often hear people say that the Dutch national team should not become too diverse," Van Sterkenburg stated.
The study highlights that, although diversity in teams is appreciated, there are still underlying tensions and prejudices that can surface during moments of defeat. Van Sterkenburg noted, "Football comes with intense emotions. When a country loses an important match, filters disappear for some spectators, and a primal instinct emerges."
In De Volkskrant, Van Sterkenburg explained how the media contributes to certain connotations of skin colors. "People have a subconscious image associated with color. In the media, black is often synonymous with speed, white with leadership." From his researcher's perspective, he acknowledges the importance of addressing these mechanisms to look beyond football. "For instance, why do far fewer people of color reach board levels? If a board is entirely white, the quick conclusion is that they must be better board members. But that is too simplistic."
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Read the full articles (in Dutch) via Volkskrant and Algemeen Dagblad.
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