Racism has no place in football or society.
A recent survey undertaken by Show Racism the Red Card showed 46% of staff are aware of racist bullying or discrimination in Scottish schools, while 66.4% are aware of pupils expressing misconceptions, stereotypes, or negative attitudes that are racist.
It is the responsibility of us all to ensure that the anti-racism message is spread far and wide for everyone to see.
This is why we are proudly continuing our support of Show Racism the Red Card’s Match Actions Campaign during our match against St Johnstone on Saturday 21 October and our women’s match against Hearts on Sunday 22 October.
Show Racism the Red Card is the UK’s leading anti-racism Education Charity, working within schools, workplaces, sports, and community organisations to educate children, young people, and adults on challenging prejudice and stereotypes.
Using the power of football is a powerful tool to initiate conversations about anti-racism and our club has supported their messages of tolerance and inclusion for many years. Now more than ever, the importance of active anti-racism cannot be overstated.
Across Scottish football, clubs will show their commitment to anti-racism over one weekend – Friday 20th, Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October. This weekend also coincides with Show Racism the Red Card’s UK-wide annual fundraising drive, Wear Red Day, taking place on Friday 20th October. On this day, individuals and groups up and down the country are encouraged to wear red and donate to show their support for the campaign and its message.
The Match Actions weekend also takes place during Black History Month and as part of the celebrations, SRtRC are partnering with the National Library of Scotland. On the 26th October at Glasgow’s Kelvinhall, there will be a film screening and discussion about Andrew Watson, Scotland and the world’s first black international footballer.
“We are delighted with the support for anti-racism that exists within Scottish football and are very proud of our upcoming match actions,” Billy Singh from Show Racism the Red Card said.
“However the work must continue. We call on our supporters to continue to challenge racism.
“It is a shared responsibility across the game, from dressing rooms to boardrooms, and from stadiums to social media, to ensure that an anti-racism ethos is maintained throughout the year. And please remember that all our teams are made up of different nationalities from all over the world. Migrants make a positive contribution to Scotland and that’s something we should celebrate.”
“It is vital that we continue to use our voice to say that racism is not welcome in football nor in society,” Motherwell FC manager Stuart Kettlewell stated.
“Unfortunately, we still see instances of racism across the globe. It truly is horrible to see and we must all stand up and condemn these acts.
“We must stand against racism.”
“We are lucky we get to enjoy a sport where you meet individuals from all walks of life,” Motherwell Women forward Kaela McDonald-Nguah said.
“It’s vital we show our support for one another from the changing rooms all the way onto the pitch. Football is a fantastic platform to drive out any racism and discrimination.
“We at Motherwell are proud to continue our support of the brilliant work carried out by Show Racism the Red Card.”
Football is a sport that is loved across the world and football matches should be an enjoyable experience for everyone, of all backgrounds. Education is the key and in the 27 years the Show Racism the Red Card has been running, they have educated over 1 Million participants, reaching that significant milestone in March 2023.
We are proud to support them to reach their next big milestone and to ensure Scotland is equipped with the tools to challenge and eradicate racism from football and society.
For useful resources and information from Show Racism the Red Card, please visit their website and explore their anti-racism video platform.
You can also follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.