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British Asians in association football

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The term "British Asian" generally refers to British citizens who can trace their origin to South Asia; however, it also refer to those of East Asian origin. The lack of British Asians in association football has received significant media attention, and has seen some clubs announce plans to explicitly target young British Asian players.

Background

In April 2001, Britons of South or East Asian heritage constituted over 55% of the non-white population, or at least 4.4% of the total population.[1] 2007 estimates for England only suggest at least 7.0% of the English population as being of Asian origin, or 59% of non-whites.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4] Current professionals, such as Adnan Ahmed, have publicly spoken out about the lack of fellow Asians in the sport.[5]

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.[6][7]

Zesh Rehman, of Pakistani origin, was the first British Asian to play in the Premiership.[8] Rehman later launched his own Foundation in May 2010, with the intention of helping young British Asians in football.[9][10]

Anwar Uddin, of Bangladeshi origin, was the first British Asian to captain a side in the top four divisions of English League football.[11] Uddin remains the only player of Bangladeshi origin to turn professional.[12]

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.[13]

In October 2013 the Football Association announced plans to encourage an increase in British Asian players and coaches.[14][15]

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.[16]

International football

Frank Soo, of Chinese heritage, played for the England wartime team and remains the only player of East Asian heritage to do so.[17]

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.[18]

A number of British Asians have represented their secondary nations at international level; a full list can be found below.

Clubs

There are a number of Asian-specific football teams. Teams such as London APSA and Sporting Bengal United became the first Asian clubs to play in the FA Cup in 2005.[3]

In October 2007, clubs in the Football League began out-reach programmes into Asian communities to attract new fans.[19]

In March 2009, Premier League club Chelsea announced plans to target young players from Asian communities.[20] 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.[21]

Fans

In December 1999, a Scottish Asian football fan publicly spoke out about the racism he had encountered at Rangers.[22]

Research compiled by the Premier League in March 2009 concluded that more British Asians were attending games than ever before.[23] 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.[24]

Officials

Jarnail Singh, who is of Indian descent, has been described as a "trailblazer" for Asian referees.[25]

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. [26]

Organisations

The Football Association has held meetings on the matter of British Asians in association football,[27] though in March 2014 it announced plans to increase the number of British Asians in football would be delayed.[28] FA chairman Greg Dyke admitted in December 2014 that attempts to increase Asian participation in the sport had failed.[29]

In January 2012 the inaugural Asian Football Awards were held.[30]

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 nation of origin.

Name Origin Debut[31] International details Notes & references
Ahmed, Shahed Bangladesh 2004 [32]
Uddin, Anwar Bangladesh 2002
Chung, Sammy Republic of China 1951
Soo, Frank Republic of China 1933 Full caps for England
Bains, Rikki India 2006
Batth, Danny India 2009 [14]
Benning, Malvind India 2012 [14]
Chopra, Michael India 2000 Youth caps for England In August 2014 Chopra stated that he wanted to play for India at international level.[33]
Dhanda, Yan India 2015 Youth caps for England [16]
Dosanj, Aman India 1999 Youth caps for England Women First British Asian to represent England at any level[34][35]
Sansara, Netan India 2008 Youth caps for England
Sekhon, Aaron India 2011 [36][37]
Singh, Harpal India 2001
Taylor, Neil India 2001 Senior caps for Wales [14][38]
Verdi, Roger India 1972
Verma, Aman India 2009
Williams, Rhys India 2008 Full caps for Australia Born in Australia to a British father and an Indian mother
Williams, Ryan India 2011 Australia U-20 caps Born in Australia to a British father and an Indian Mother
Jalal, Shwan Iraq 2000 Full caps for England C
Ahmed, Adnan Pakistan 2004 Full caps for Pakistan
Ashraf, Reis Pakistan 2009 Full caps for Pakistan
Bashir, Atif Pakistan 2004 Full caps for Pakistan Born in Germany to a British Asian father and a German Turkish mother
Docker, Adam Pakistan 2007 Full caps for Pakistan
Gondal, Usman Pakistan 2006 Full caps for Pakistan
Iqbal, Amjad Pakistan 2007 Full caps for Pakistan
Khan, Sabhir Pakistan 2009 Full caps for Pakistan
Nabi, Adil Pakistan 2015 Youth caps for England [39]
Rehman, Zesh Pakistan 2003 Full caps for Pakistan
Siddiqi, Kashif Pakistan 2005 Full caps for Pakistan [14]
Suliman, Easah Pakistan TBC Youth caps for England First player of Pakistani heritage to captain an England team[39]
Etheridge, Neil Philippines 2008 Full caps for Philippines
Hartmann, Mark Philippines 2011 Full caps for Philippines
Hartmann, Matthew Philippines 2006 Full caps for Philippines
Gier, Rob Philippines 2000 Full caps for Philippines
Gould, Chad Philippines 2004 Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, Christopher Philippines 2004 Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, Phil Philippines 2006 Full caps for Philippines
Greatwich, Simon Philippines 2008 Full caps for Philippines
Younghusband, James Philippines 2006 Full caps for Philippines
Younghusband, Phil Philippines 2006 Full caps for Philippines
Chunonsee, Mika Thailand 2007 Youth caps for Wales
Ramasut, Tom Thailand 1996 Youth caps for Wales
Waite, Jamie Thailand 2004 Full caps for Thailand
Mohamed, Kaid Yemen 2003

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

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ethnicity". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  2. ^ "Ethnicity 2007 England". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 28 April 2010.
  3. ^ a b "Asians in Football news". Let's Kick Racism Out of Football. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  4. ^ Northcroft, Jonathan (10 February 2008). "Why are there no Asian football stars?". London: The Times. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Ahmed wants rise in Asian players". BBC Sport. 21 November 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  6. ^ Harmit Singh Kamboe (June 2007). "Interview with Roger Verdi". IndianFootball.com. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  7. ^ Shamya Dasgupta. "He played against Pele, Best, Banks, now he wants to coach here". IndianExpress.com. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  8. ^ "The Premiership's first asian star: Zesh Rehman". The People. 17 May 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Nikesh Rughani (7 April 2010). "Rehman targets helping British Asians into football". BBC Sport. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  10. ^ "Zesh Rehman leading push for change". Telegraph & Argus. 1 August 2013.
  11. ^ Patrick Nathanson (8 August 2007). "Anwar Uddin to lead Dagenham and Redbridge". London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ New Age Xtra. "British-Bangladeshis who have made a mark". Retrieved 21 October 2008.
  13. ^ "Kash Siddiqi plans Foundation for Asian footballers in UK". Football Pakistan. 23 November 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d e Mandeep Sanghera (29 October 2013). "British Asians in football: FA steps up recruitment drive". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  15. ^ Mandeep Sanghera (29 October 2013). "Is English football set for an Asian breakthrough?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  16. ^ a b Mandeep Sanghera (18 December 2015). "Liverpool sign Yan Dhanda on professional deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 December 2015.
  17. ^ "FRANK SOO – DERBYSHIRE'S FAMOUS CHINAMAN". Bygone Derbyshire. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  18. ^ Pramod Morjaria (1 August 2007). "Bend it like Beckham in Rotherham". BBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  19. ^ Niki Cardwell (28 October 2007). "Football clubs reaching out to Asians". BBC News. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  20. ^ "Chelsea plot Asian talent trawl". BBC Sport. 26 March 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  21. ^ "Chelsea continue search for an Asian football star". BBC Sport. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
  22. ^ "Fan's fear over 'racism at Rangers'". BBC News. 14 December 1999. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  23. ^ Sukhi Hayer (2 March 2009). "Have Asians embraced the beautiful game?". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  24. ^ Rahila Bano (23 March 2013). "Why Asian fans shun clubs like Oldham and Burnley". BBC News.
  25. ^ "Refereeing". Asian Football Network. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  26. ^ Asian Football Awards website
  27. ^ "Increasing Asian participation in football". The Football Association. 11 July 2011.
  28. ^ Mandeep Sanghera (4 March 2014). "British Asians plan delayed by FA as it seeks further talks". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  29. ^ "FA chairman Greg Dyke: More Asians needed in football". BBC Sport. 18 December 2014. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  30. ^ Simon Parker (17 January 2012). "Former Bantam in running for top Asian award". Telegraph & Argus. Retrieved 17 January 2012. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  31. ^ Club or international debut – whichever came first
  32. ^ Player profile – "The youngster has his roots in Bangladesh"
  33. ^ "Michael Chopra: 'I want to be Indian football's Tendulkar'". BBC Sport. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  34. ^ Urmee Khan (10 November 2006). "The unsporting life". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  35. ^ Daniel Burdsey (2007). British Asians and football: culture, identity, exclusion. Routledge. Retrieved 28 November 2010.
  36. ^ Chris Roberts (16 July 2011). "I want to be a role model to young Asians who love football, says Partick Thistle starlet Aaron Singh Sekhon". Daily Record.
  37. ^ Gordon Parks (25 January 2012). "Partick Thistle young star Aaron Sekhon shortlisted for top Asian award". The Glaswegian.
  38. ^ Ben Proctor (17 February 2012). "Football in India is growing – Swansea City's Neil Taylor". Goal.com.
  39. ^ a b Ed Aarons (18 November 2015). "Aston Villa's Easah Suliman hopes to set standard for England's Asian footballers". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 August 2016.
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