British Asians in association football

The low level of British Asians in association football has received significant media attention,[1][2] and has seen some clubs announce plans to explicitly target young British Asian players.

In October 2017 the BBC reported that out of 3,000 professional footballers in England, only 10 were British Asian.[3] In 2019, academic Daniel Kilvington suggested a figure of 10 British Asians out of a total of 4,000 professional players in the English game.[4] By contrast, at the time of the 2011 census around 7.5% of the population of England was of Asian descent – a ratio of footballers mirroring this would be 300 out of the 4,000.[5]

History

Players

Club football

A Commission for Racial Equality survey in 2004 found only seven professional British Asian footballers playing in the UK; the same survey also found only ten British Asian players at Premier League academies.[6] By February 2008 the number of professionals had dropped to just five, and less than 1 in 100 of young players in Academies throughout the entire English football league system were Asian.[7] Current professionals, such as Adnan Ahmed, have publicly spoken out about the lack of fellow Asians in the sport.[8]

Roger Verdi, of Indian origin, was forced to change his name because of racism, and had to move to the United States to start a professional career.[9][10]

Zesh Rehman, of Pakistani origin, was the first British Asian to play in the Premiership.[11] Rehman later launched his own Foundation in May 2010, with the intention of helping young British Asians in football.[12][13]

Anwar Uddin, of Bangladeshi origin, was the first British Asian to captain a side in the top four divisions of English League football.[14]

In 2011, British-Pakistani footballer Kashif Siddiqi founded the Kashif Siddiqi Foundation, with the aim to encourage increase the participation of British Asians in association football.[15]

In October 2013 the Football Association announced plans to encourage an increase in British Asian players and coaches.[5][16]

In December 2015, Yan Dhanda became the second professional Asian player in the Premier League, after Neil Taylor. Dhanda signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with Liverpool.[17]

On 28 November 2017, Hamza Choudhury made his Premier League debut for Leicester coming on as substitute in the 83rd minute of a home win against Tottenham Hotspur. He is the first player of Bangladeshi descent to have played in the Premier League, as well as the only Bangladeshi to currently play in the Premier League.[18]

In February 2019, Adil Nabi said that he wanted to be an inspiration to other British Asian footballers, in the same way that Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham had done for black players.[19]

In October 2019 there were "just 12 players of South Asian heritage across the Premier League and the English Football League".[20]

International football

Correct as of November 2015, Neil Taylor is the only British Asian to have won full international caps for one of the home nations, making over 40 appearances for Wales since his debut in 2010. He also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[21]

Frank Soo, of Chinese heritage, played for the England wartime team and remains the only player of East Asian heritage to do so.[22]

In August 2007, trials were organised by the Pakistan Football Federation in Rotherham, South Yorkshire for British Pakistanis players to attend a training camp with the Pakistan national team.[23]

Clubs

There are a number of Asian-specific football teams such as London APSA, Sporting Khalsa and Sporting Bengal United, who became the first Asian clubs to play in the FA Cup in 2005.[6]

In October 2007, clubs in the Football League began out-reach programmes into Asian communities to attract new fans.[24]

In March 2009, Premier League club Chelsea announced plans to target young players from Asian communities.[25] Two players found on the trial later signed with Southend United and Leyton Orient, and in May 2010 Chelsea launched a second initiative, with the aim to find six young British Asian players.[26]

Fans

In December 1999, a Scottish Asian football fan publicly spoke out about the racism he had encountered at Rangers.[27]

Research compiled by the Premier League in March 2009 concluded that more British Asians were attending games than ever before.[28] However, research in 2013 by the BBC found that only 1% of fans of teams in the North West of England are Asian, despite making up 20% of the population of some areas.[29]

Officials

Jarnail Singh, who is of Indian descent, has been described as a "trailblazer" for Asian referees.[30]

The Asian Football Awards

Launched to recognise the outstanding contribution to both the professional game and grass roots initiatives by individuals and groups across the UK with South Asian heritage, the awards focus on the positive efforts made in the football industry.[31]

Organisations

The Football Association has held meetings on the matter of British Asians in association football,[32] and they launched a campaign in 2013 to increase British Asians in football,[33] though in March 2014 it announced plans to increase the number of British Asians in football would be delayed.[34] FA chairman Greg Dyke admitted in December 2014 that attempts to increase Asian participation in the sport had failed.[35]

In January 2012 the inaugural Asian Football Awards were held.[36]

Racism
Main article: Racism in association football

In April 2019 British Asian footballers spoke out about the racist abuse they had encountered.[37] In August 2019 Yan Dhanda said that the racism he has encountered as a British Asian footballer inspires him to play his best.[38]

List of British Asian footballers

The following is a list of notable British Asian footballers – those who have participated at professional or international level – organised by ethnic heritage.

NameHeritageDebut[39]International detailsNotes & references
Husin, NoorAfghanistan2016
Kouhyar, MaziarAfghanistan2016
Choudhury, HamzaBangladesh2015Youth caps for England[40]
Ahmed, ShahedBangladesh2004[41]
Uddin, AnwarBangladesh2002[42]
Chung, SammyRepublic of China1951
Soo, FrankRepublic of China1933Full caps for the England wartime and Victory International sides during and shortly after World War Two. The first player of East Asian descent to play for any England side.
Bains, RikkiIndia2006
Batth, DannyIndia2009[5][43][42]
Benning, MalvindIndia2012[5][42]
Carter, JimmyIndia1987First Asian to play in the Premier League, but did not disclose his background at the time.[42]
Chopra, MichaelIndia2000Youth caps for EnglandIn August 2014 Chopra stated that he wanted to play for India at international level.[44][42]
Dhanda, YanIndia2018Youth caps for England[17]
Dosanj, AmanIndia1999Youth caps for England WomenFirst British Asian to represent England in official matches at any level.[45][46]
Juttla, JazzIndia1997[47][48]
Sansara, NetanIndia2008Youth caps for England
Sekhon, AaronIndia2011[49][50]
Singh, HarpalIndia2001
Taylor, NeilIndia2007Senior caps for Wales[5][51][42]
Verdi, RogerIndia1972
Verma, AmanIndia2009[42]
Williams, RhysIndia2008Full caps for AustraliaBorn in Australia to a British father and an Indian mother
Williams, RyanIndia2011Australia U-20 capsBorn in Australia to a British father and an Indian Mother
Kasim, YaserIraq2010Full caps for Iraq
Jalal, ShwanIraq2000Full caps for England C
Ahmed, AdnanPakistan2004Full caps for Pakistan[42]
Asghar, AdamPakistan2013[52]
Ashraf, ReisPakistan2009Full caps for Pakistan
Bashir, AtifPakistan2004Full caps for PakistanBorn in Germany to a British Asian father and a German Turkish mother.
Docker, AdamPakistan2007Full caps for Pakistan
Gondal, UsmanPakistan2006Full caps for Pakistan
Iqbal, AmjadPakistan2007Full caps for Pakistan
Khan, OtisPakistan2013
Khan, SabhirPakistan2009Full caps for Pakistan
Nabi, AdilPakistan2013Youth caps for England[19][53][42]
Nabi, SamirPakistan2016[19]
Rehman, ZeshPakistan2003Full caps for Pakistan[42]
Sarwar, RashidPakistan1985[47][54]
Siddiqi, KashifPakistan2005Full caps for Pakistan[5]
Suliman, EasahPakistan2015Youth caps for EnglandFirst player of Pakistani heritage to captain an England side.[53]
Etheridge, NeilPhilippines2008Full caps for Philippines
Hartmann, MarkPhilippines2011Full caps for Philippines
Hartmann, MatthewPhilippines2006Full caps for Philippines
Gier, RobPhilippines2000Full caps for Philippines
Gould, ChadPhilippines2004Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, ChristopherPhilippines2004Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, PhilPhilippines2006Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, SimonPhilippines2008Full caps for Philippines
Younghusband, JamesPhilippines2006Full caps for Philippines
Younghusband, PhilPhilippines2006Full caps for Philippines
Ali, MukhtarSaudi Arabia2017Full caps for Saudi Arabia
Ng, PerrySingapore2014[55]
Chunonsee, MikaThailand2007Youth caps for Wales; full caps for Thailand
Ramasut, TomThailand1996Youth caps for Wales
Waite, JamieThailand2004Full caps for Thailand
Mohamed, KaidYemen2003

The 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham deals with issues relating to British Asians in football.

See also

References
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  2. Olivia Blair (1 November 1997). "Football: They think they've no chance before even kicking a ball". The Independent. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  3. "Son challenges dad: Why couldn't I go to Man Utd trial?". BBC News. 2 October 2017.
  4. Kilvington, Daniel (2019). "Two decades and little change: British Asians, football and calls for action". Soccer & Society. 20 (4): 584–601. doi:10.1080/14660970.2017.1366902.
  5. Mandeep Sanghera (29 October 2013). "British Asians in football: FA steps up recruitment drive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  6. "Asians in Football news". Let's Kick Racism Out of Football. Archived from the original on 17 February 2010. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  7. Northcroft, Jonathan (10 February 2008). "Why are there no Asian football stars?". The Times. London. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  8. "Ahmed wants rise in Asian players". BBC Sport. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  9. Harmit Singh Kamboe (June 2007). "Interview with Roger Verdi". IndianFootball.com. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  10. Shamya Dasgupta. "He played against Pele, Best, Banks, now he wants to coach here". IndianExpress.com. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  11. "The Premiership's first asian star: Zesh Rehman". The People. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  12. Nikesh Rughani (7 April 2010). "Rehman targets helping British Asians into football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  13. "Zesh Rehman leading push for change". Telegraph & Argus. 1 August 2013.
  14. Patrick Nathanson (8 August 2007). "Anwar Uddin to lead Dagenham and Redbridge". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  15. "Kash Siddiqi plans Foundation for Asian footballers in UK". Football Pakistan. 23 November 2011.
  16. Mandeep Sanghera (29 October 2013). "Is English football set for an Asian breakthrough?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  17. Mandeep Sanghera (18 December 2015). "Liverpool sign Yan Dhanda on professional deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  18. "Premier League: Leicester City vs Tottenham Hotspur – 2:1". 28 November 2017.
  19. "Adil Nabi: Ex-West Brom midfielder on playing with Roberto Carlos, Greece & inspiring youngsters". 4 February 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  20. "British Asians in football: What happened to Football Association strategy?". 31 October 2019 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  21. Din, Tusdiq (13 November 2015). "Why is Swansea's Neil Taylor the only British Asian in the Premier League?". mirror.
  22. "FRANK SOO – DERBYSHIRE'S FAMOUS CHINAMAN". Bygone Derbyshire. Archived from the original on 4 December 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
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  29. Rahila Bano (23 March 2013). "Why Asian fans shun clubs like Oldham and Burnley". BBC News.
  30. "Refereeing". Asian Football Network. Archived from the original on 10 December 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  31. "Asian Football Awards 2017". Asian Football Awards 2017.
  32. "Increasing Asian participation in football". The Football Association. 11 July 2011.
  33. "British Asians in football: FA steps up recruitment drive". 29 October 2013 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
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  35. "FA chairman Greg Dyke: More Asians needed in football". BBC Sport. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
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  39. Club or international debut – whichever came first
  40. Tanner, Rob (12 October 2017). "Why Leicester City's local lad Hamza Choudhury really stands out". leicestermercury.
  41. Player profile – "The youngster has his roots in Bangladesh"
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