Several media platforms have come under fire for their “polarising” decision to use a picture of Bukayo Saka to depict England’s loss to Iceland.
Saka entered the game at Wembley on Friday as a substitute in the 65th minute, yet his image was featured on numerous English newspaper back pages.
Former England forward Ian Wright drew attention to a social media post showcasing the coverage, stating that “those who decide the back page content are fully aware of their actions”.
The Star and the Sun were singled out for featuring a picture of Saka on their back pages, while the Telegraph used an image of the 22-year-old Saka to accompany a player ratings post on X.
The BBC Sport website’s live text, which regularly updates its main image during the match, also displayed a picture of Saka after he had entered the game.
In a public letter to editors, Kick It Out CEO Tony Burnett reminded the media to “bear in mind its obligations”.
Burnett stated: “We are aware that significant efforts have been made in recent years to diversify the media industry, and this has assisted in ensuring that those guilty of discrimination face justice.
“However, many fans would have woken up on Saturday morning questioning if anything has truly changed.
“As we approach Euro 2024, fans are rightfully questioning whether the current England squad will experience a repeat of the incidents involving Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho following the previous Euros final, where all three were subjected to horrific online abuse due to their on-field actions.
“This is a question we at Kick it Out have been pondering.
“While there has been progress with prosecutions and the Online Safety Bill has been enacted to hopefully increase oversight of social media companies, we received more reports last season – both online and in stadiums – of players being targeted than ever before. Clearly, our advancements are insufficient.
“I shouldn’t have to remind you that the media targeting black players has a long history and its impact is widespread. It conveys a message that they are unwelcome, that they are just one misstep away from vilification, and it signals to online trolls that it’s open season on players.
“It also communicates to fans from black and ethnic minority communities that they are outsiders or potential targets of abuse. These factors should be taken into account when crafting headlines or choosing images as deadlines loom. The reach of words and images is extensive, and their impact can be more profound than you might anticipate.”
Delroy Corinaldi, executive director of the Black Footballers Partnership, labelled the use of Saka imagery as “divisive” and stated: “This is a familiar scenario: the UK media has failed to learn from its previous actions.”