DIVERSITY & INCLUSION with which they do everything else , have been almost entirely unresponsive to the problem .
Make no mistake , Twitter , Facebook , Instagram and the rest , hold the key to stamping out the remains of discrimination . For most of the keyboard warriors no amount of ‘ education ’ will change their world view and , therefore , you have to cut the cable and press mute ( for eternity if necessary ). Some opinions can only die out with the people that harbour them . When Marcus Rashford , Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho missed their penalties ( a tradition very much started by white footballers , Stuart Pearce , Chris Waddle and Gareth Southgate ) the bile that started to fly never should have reached readable status .
Social media companies know the solution . They seem to know what my favourite colour underwear is and who my best friend was at primary school , so surely it ’ s not beyond the realm of possibility that one of their algorithms could detect moronic racist taunts . Ultimately , there has to be more immediacy and dynamism when it comes to the guardianship of parity .
Time of our lives The enduring impact of Euro 2021 will be of a united England and a team that seemed to be galvanised by taking the knee and , if necessary , justifying it . And there were other moments which paved the way for an inclusive future . Jordan Henderson chatting with a trans person or Marcus Rashford saying ‘ it ’ s cool to say my penalty was rubbish just don ’ t blame it on my heritage ’.
Most of all , the Euros demonstrated how rapidly climates , cultures and social apparatus can change . It emphatically proved that in our offices , on the pitch and in zoom calls difference is what makes life interesting . It is also worth emphasising that change doesn ’ t have to take 400 or 40 or even four years . Why not meet our sustainability , environmental or diversity goals now , rather than some indeterminate time in the future ?
After all , it only takes a split second to score – a sudden moment which can change the game forever .
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