taz: What role does racism play according to? your study in popular sports?
Lara Kronenbitter: He is omnipresent. But this is overlooked in many clubs because whiteness is an unquestioned norm there. This means that racism is not discussed and people who are negatively affected by it remain alone with their experiences.
taz: How expresses itself this racism specifically?
Crown bitters: We conducted interviews with eleven Black amateur athletes. They spoke of overtly racist insults, but also of more subtle forms of racism such as othering, i.e. being seen as being particularly strong and fast because of their blackness, but also as being less disciplined and having a poor understanding of tactics. Many also report that they, unlike white Club members are asked about their origins or spoken to in English even though they are German. In a representative survey of more than 3,000 club members, only around half of those surveyed believed a discussion about the topic of racism in their club was necessary. The fact that the relevance of the topic is apparently not recognized is also a sign of racist structures.
taz: In popular sports, the paths between the club bodies are short, compared to professional sports the hierarchies are flat. Shouldn’t that lead to racist incidents being noticed and punished more quickly?
Crown bitters: Although many interviewees describe their club as an emotional anchor and place of belonging, this does not automatically lead to racism being seen and punished. Rather, the issue is structurally pushed aside. This has consequences: If racism is not talked about, it is tolerated and normalized. This creates spaces in which it is increasingly difficult to name and punish racism. Almost all interviewees reported that there were no sanctions that they were aware of in their club after they spoke up about racism. In addition, there are hardly any independent complaints bodies to address racism, which can also take place in your own club.
taz: Is Racism in popular sports So it’s even harder to fight than in top-class sport?
Crown bitters: That is not the relevant question, because the topic concerns sport as a whole. Supposedly the only thing that counts here is performance; sport is seen as unifying and inherently good. This is a myth; sports clubs and board positions are not equally accessible to everyone. This contradiction between the narrative surrounding sport and reality is also evident in our survey of the majority white sports club members. 76 percent of them admit that there is racism in sport, but at the same time 72 percent believe that only performance counts in sport. Almost 90 percent say that sports clubs are open to everyone, regardless of their origin or appearance. But we know from research that this is not the case.
taz: Why does this one last? Myth of “inherently good sport” despite it?
Crown bitters: Because this narrative is perpetuated. There is a lot of research on topics such as integration and equal opportunities in sport, but hardly any on racism. This causes him to disappear from view. If you don’t look, you normalize dominant ideals. And they are still in sport: white, male, straight and without physical disabilities.
taz: How could these ideals be broken and racism combated in popular sports?
Crown bitters: The club structure, for example the representation of people of color and black people on the board, has a major effect: one of our interviewees is a member of a club in which the topic of racism is continually discussed. There are also measures such as anti-racism training for trainers, and the entire board consists exclusively of people who are affected by racism. This interviewee said that she did not experience any racism in this club. The fact that the association acts in this way is the result of self-organization by those affected.
taz: How could a conventional club approach the topic?
Crown bitters: There is a need for independent complaints offices with trained contact persons, measures critical of racism such as mandatory training for club members and more representation of those affected in positions of power. It is also important to communicate these measures well so that club members actually know about them. Overall, clubs need to address racism more. And not just in social media posts, but through continuous engagement with the topic within our own ranks. This also includes specific questions such as: Who feels less safe on the way home and should therefore be given earlier seating times? How can a competition venue in a region with a lot of support for right-wing extremism be made safe? Clubs must raise their awareness of these questions.
taz: How could associations support clubs with such measures?
Crown bitters: You could oblige clubs of a certain size to set up independent complaints bodies or set them up yourself. They can also provide educational material or introduce modules in trainer training. The associations can also be a platform for the exchange of information between those affected and connect clubs so that they can learn from each other when dealing with racism. Ultimately, dealing with racism is also a task for society as a whole. It has to happen in many areas at the same time, for example in the education system. But also in the sports club.