Morgan Gibbs-White, a prominent talent in the Premier League, has courageously spoken about his encounters with racial abuse both during his school days and throughout his professional career. The former Wolves star, now 24, recounted deeply distressing incidents of racism experienced on the football field and across social media platforms, which began early in his life. Despite these challenges, Gibbs-White is steadfast in his commitment to advocate for change and progress within the football community. He highlights the critical importance of supporting and encouraging young Black players to rise through the ranks and join the England team, aiming for a future where recognition in football is based solely on talent, irrespective of race. Furthermore, Gibbs-White stresses the role of being a positive role model and maintaining personal excellence to inspire the next generation. In a related narrative, Anthony Elanga, a fellow Premier League player who represents Nottingham Forest and Sweden internationally, shared the impact of his family’s support as he dealt with similar racism-related challenges in the sport.
Morgan Gibbs-White
– On the isolating effect of racism: “They almost make you feel different to other people, just because of the colour of your skin, which is obviously wrong in so many ways because everyone is human and everyone’s blood is red.”
– On managing the emotional impact: “It’s still tough to control your anger.”
– Offering a vision for the future: “I just hope the work can continue and we can keep getting young Black players into the England team and hopefully it progresses.”
– On personal growth and leadership: “You just have to be the best possible version of yourself, day in and day out and try and be a role model and a leader for kids growing up.”
