– I have played in stadiums where people make monkey noises. It’s not nice, says Rio Ferdinand. news meets the former Manchester United star in connection with the launch of the new TV series “Tipping Point”. Through three episodes, he addresses some of the major challenges he believes football is struggling with: Why is football racist and why is it getting worse? Why are there no openly gay footballers in the Premier League? Why is there an unknown mental health crisis in football academies? Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand believes social media has made racism worse. Photo: From “Tipping Point” / Amazon Prime Video Former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand believes social media has made racism worse. Photo: From “Tipping Point” / Amazon Prime Video The stopper played over 500 games in the Premier League in the period 2002-2013 and won the series six times with Manchester United. In addition, he played 81 games for England. Ferdinand admits to having had several experiences with racism. – I played in the national team and was the recipient of racism. Repeatedly. But my time was before social media. He believes social media has made racism worse. There it is allowed to live over time and grow large. In the documentary, he looks for people who post racist statements on social media and holds them accountable. Difficult to get players to open up He talks to himself. Slung lightly in a chair in a hotel room in central London, he manages the art of being both reclined and forward at the same time. One leg on the table, with hands that articulate a great commitment to the abuse that has been allowed to characterize parts of football for so long. Ferdinand is provoked that neither the Premier League nor the police and the judiciary have tackled racism in football. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / NRKFerdinand is provoked that neither the Premier League nor the police and the judiciary have tackled racism in football. Photo: Gry Blekastad Almås / news Perhaps this is contributing to the fact that he has come close to both players, supporters and organizations in football during the two years he has worked with the series. – What have you learned about why racism has been allowed to characterize football for years? – I think lack of education, i.e. ignorance, is a large part of the problem. Answers the former star player, who did not anticipate how difficult it would be to get people to talk publicly about these things. – One of the difficult things was getting players to talk. Everyone is so protective, he says. Why are there no openly gay players in the Premier League, asks the TV series “Tipping Point”. Photo: From “Tipping Point” / Amazon Prime Video In the series, Ferdinand talks to several profiles, including Romelu Lukaku, Wilfried Zaha and the former German national team player Thomas Hitzlsperger. The latter only chose to come out as gay after his football career, after being advised to keep his orientation hidden while he was still active. Soccer World Cup in a country that bans homosexuality In two weeks, the soccer World Cup kicks off in Qatar. – What do you think about a country that bans homosexuality hosting the football World Cup? Ferdinand thinks twice. This is a difficult question. The answer will be diplomatic. – Many countries do things that we in the West believe are wrong in our countries. There are things I do not agree with. But I have learned from this documentary that we are not perfect either. There is much work to be done here as well. That is the work he hopes to begin by starting a public conversation that could lead to changes in attitude in football. Want to change attitudes Ferdinand has had meetings with the Premier League to bring about a change in attitude, so that it is possible to talk about racism, mental health and homosexuality in British top football as well. Racism in football is one of three topics Rio Ferdinand takes up in his new TV series. Photo: From “Tipping Point” / Amazon Prime VideoRacism in football is one of three topics Rio Ferdinand takes up in his new TV series. Photo: From “Tipping Point” / Amazon Prime Video – Football must create environments where players feel safe to speak out, show vulnerability and weakness. And that when you do, you are not judged or punished for it. He praises individual players such as Marcus Rashford and Raheem Sterling, who have spoken publicly about racism. But they have done it on their own behalf. Rio Ferdinand dreams that players who are affected by racism, or who do not dare to talk about their sexual orientation or mental health, should work together. Social media makes racism even worse than before, believes Rio Ferdinand. Photo: Amazon Prime Social media makes racism even worse than before, believes Rio Ferdinand. Photo: Amazon Prime – My dream scenario is to see all the current players come together and say we’re not in this anymore. Rio Ferdinand’s “Tipping Point” is produced by Sportfive/Brave, Circle Circle Films and New Era Ingenious. The series will be released on Amazon Prime on November 11.
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Rio Ferdinand with TV series about racism, sexual orientation and mental health in football – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
