(Todd A. Smith)
Soccer is not the most popular sport in the United States, obviously.
But if a sports fan or news junkie has paid attention over the years, they would know that many Black soccer stars and Black fans in the stands have endured racist taunts and slurs while trying to participate in the world’s most popular sport.
Therefore, it was no surprise to see the game’s brightest young star and one of the world’s most popular social media stars being subjected to racism from fans and politicians from South America.
Milena Walde of Politico reported, “Remarks by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla shocked France—and much of the world—earlier this week after she branded Kylian Mbappé a ‘brute,’ mocked his intelligence and questioned his French identity.
“Days later, the fallout has spiraled from international condemnation to criminal investigations and extraordinary South American threats to extradite the French captain.
“Amarilla’s comments landed against an already charged backdrop after France’s World Cup tense knockout victory over Paraguay. Hours after the match, revelers at Paraguay’s annual San Juan Ara festival burned an effigy labeled “Kylian Mbappé.’ But once the senator’s remarks sparked international outrage, Paraguay’s government moved to distance itself Monday, calling them ‘contrary to the values and principles’ of the country and insisting they reflected neither the government’s views nor those of the Paraguayan people.”
French soccer sensation Kylian Mbappé criticized the politician from Paraguay for her racist comments about him as he continues his pursuit to bring the World Cup trophy back to France.
Additionally, FIFA has opened an investigation into racist taunts and abuse by Argentinian fans directed at streamer and social media superstar IShowSpeed.
On July 7, Sean Leahy of Yahoo Sports reported, “FIFA has released a statement condemning the racist abuse directed towards streamer IShowSpeed during last week’s Argentina-Cape Verde Round of 32 World Cup Match in Miami.
“Speed, who has over 56 million YouTube subscribers and over 4.1 million followers on X, was streaming live from the game at Hard Rock Stadium while wearing a Cape Verde jersey. A fan near him in the stands used a racial slur and told him to ‘go home.’ A fan was also heard telling the streamer to ‘go cry at the zoo.’”
Earlier in the World Cup, an Asian social media star was racially mocked while at a game in Mexico.
While racists will excuse racist behavior.
And trust me, I have personally seen people excuse the racism of the Mexican fan because I read the YouTube comments after I discussed the incident on “The Isiah Factor Uncensored” talk show.
Anyone with sense and an ounce of humanity will also see a point that I have constantly made about the realities of racism and bigotry.
I consistently speak out against racial discrimination and discrimination of all sorts.
But social justice warriors, like me, constantly hear the same excuse.
Why do you make everything about race?
Why do you play the race card?
Speaking about race and racism makes me uncomfortable.
If you would stop talking about race, racism would disappear.
These incidents prove that ignoring race or racism will never stop racism.
Confronting and condemning racism will hopefully reduce racism.
I fail to believe that IShowSpeed or Mbappé were thinking about race during the World Cup.
The French soccer star is attempting to win the 2026 World Cup.
And IShowSpeed is covering the World Cup as a social media influencer.
He has even appeared on newscasts on Fox 26 Houston, the home of “The Isiah Factor Uncensored.”
Those two Black men are having the time of their lives and minding their own business.
Yet, racism still reared its ugly head, and they faced racial abuse because of someone else’s ignorance.
I am pretty sure they did not mention race at their matches.
But soccer fans of a lighter hue sure did mention it.
Last week on “The Isiah Factor Uncensored,” I told the host, Isiah Carey they every time I have endured racism, race was the last thing on my mind.
So, when people say Why do you make everything about race, they should ask that question to racists and not the victims of racism.
No one would have to talk about racism if they were not victimized by racism.
I went to the World Cup match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
Race and racism were the last thing on my mind.
Being able to scratch the World Cup off my bucket list and seeing some beautiful Cape Verdean women were the only things I thought about.
Therefore, if someone had hurled racial insults at me, it would not have been me making things about race.
It would have been the racists making everything about race.
The other excuse people make for racist behavior is the sensitive claim.
They might ask, why are so sensitive?
Why do you take things so seriously?
Racists want Black people to accept racism.
But the minute a Black person says something that offends a group that they like, many of those same people are quick to call out a Black person’s alleged bigotry.
It is easy to talk trash without hurling racial slurs.
Talking trash to an opponent and their fanbase, especially after you beat them, is par for the course.
While soccer is gaining some traction in the crowded sports market in America, if it stays on this racist course, though, the sport will not grow as much.
Just like racists cannot grow mentally, by sticking with their ignorance and stupidity.
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