Back to the Premier League Newsfeed

TV football commentary is RIDDLED with racial bias: Alarming results from research across Europe's top leagues show stars with darker skin tones receive at least 63% of criticism in regards to intelligence and quality

The PFA have urged commentators to address their racial bias after a study revealed differences in how they describe players with different skin tones.

Findings revealed on Tuesday, following the first study of its kind in football, showed that 'deep-rooted racial stereotypes' are promoted in commentary by:

  • Players with lighter skin tones receiving significantly more praise for their intelligence, quality, work rate and versatility.
  • Players with darker skin tones receiving at least 63 per cent of the criticism when it came to comments made about intelligence, quality and versatility.
  • Players with darker skin tones being more likely to be reduced to their physical attributes, receiving almost seven times more comments about their power and over three times more about their speed.