Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has called for stronger punishments and greater education to combat the seemingly growing number of racist incidents at football matches.
Sunday’s Manchester derby was marred by a City supporter allegedly making a racist gesture at United midfielder Fred.
A 13-year-old Burnley fan was ejected for an alleged racist gesture aimed at Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, two Wolves fans were arrested on suspicion of using homophobic gestures at Brighton and Everton were also investigating alleged homophobic chanting.
They are the latest in a long list of similar incidents – Henderson himself was caught up in it on England duty in Bulgaria in a Euro 2020 qualifier – and the midfielder believes plenty more still has to be done to tackle the issue.
“It’s a topic we are probably speaking about a little too much at the minute, especially what I’ve experienced recently on international duty,” he said.
“It’s not a nice topic to speak about, but it’s one where we need to come together as players, clubs, supporters and start to fight it again, with stronger punishments, more education.
“It’s a problem. We can’t pretend it’s happening in every other country and not in ours. It’s happening everywhere. We have to fight it as best as we can.”
