BIG PETE: Heskey Advocates for Fighting Racism in Football and Educating the Next Generation of Players

Heskey shared insights during an interview about some of the most challenging times in his career, notably experiences of racial abuse he faced within stadiums.

“There was a match where the entire crowd resorted to making monkey noises. In those bleak moments, all you want is to channel that energy into your performance, score a goal, and get them to quieten down. When I was beginning my career, players like John Barnes and Ian Wright endured overt racism, with fans even hurling bananas at them. While we don’t see such acts as frequently today, racism has simply moved to different platforms, particularly social media. It’s less overt now, but it remains prevalent,” he articulated.

He also highlighted the importance of educating young players as a significant concern. Although clubs do engage in some educational initiatives, it often falls short. “Young athletes suddenly find themselves in the limelight, yet no one adequately prepares them for what that entails — especially in managing negativity or knowing where to report it if it occurs,” Heskey noted.

The complete television version of this episode from the Big Pete documentary series will be accessible on CANAL+ Sport and the CANAL+ streaming platform in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France, Poland, Myanmar, Belgium, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, and Hungary, as well as on SuperSport in South Africa and Switzerland.