Media Treatment of Jude Bellingham: Insights from Ian Wright

Jude Bellingham made his England debut in 2020.

Former England striker Ian Wright believes that the media’s treatment of Jude Bellingham reflects a broader discomfort with the emergence of a black superstar in football. This comes in light of the criticism Bellingham faced after his reaction to being substituted during England’s recent World Cup qualifying victory against Albania.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel, who had previously apologized to Bellingham for labeling his on-field behavior as “repulsive,” mentioned he would reassess the midfielder’s response to the substitution.

Despite Bellingham’s impressive performance as England reached the finals of Euro 2024, he currently faces uncertainty regarding his starting position under Tuchel, raising questions about his inclusion in next summer’s World Cup squad.

Wright asserts that the media scrutiny surrounding the 22-year-old—who debuted internationally at just 17—is informed by racial dynamics, stating that Bellingham “frightens certain people” by being unapologetically confident in his identity as a black athlete. On The Overlap YouTube channel, Wright expressed concern for Bellingham, remarking, “He’s showing people that I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, I’m ready to go.”

Bellingham’s career trajectory has been remarkable since leaving Birmingham City in 2020 for Borussia Dortmund, and subsequently joining Real Madrid in a deal valued at up to 133.9 million euros (£115 million). In his first season at the Bernabeu, he achieved a notable La Liga and Champions League double, netting 23 goals and providing 13 assists.

During Euro 2024, Bellingham played a crucial role in propelling Gareth Southgate’s team to the quarter-finals, scoring a spectacular overhead kick in the dying moments of the match against Slovakia.

Gary Neville, a former England defender and coach, shared that Raheem Sterling felt similarly targeted by media scrutiny during Euro 2016. In 2018, Sterling voiced concerns over the portrayal of black footballers in national newspapers, accusing them of perpetuating racial bias.

In discussing the similarities between Sterling’s experience and Bellingham’s, Wright stated, “I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar who can move like Jude is moving. They can’t touch him. He performs consistently and is seen as ‘too uppity’ by some. In football terms, they widely admire humble players like N’Golo Kante, but the energy from players like Bellingham or Paul Pogba can unsettle them. Jude, in particular, intimidates some due to his talent and the inspiration he embodies.”

Bellingham was omitted from England’s October squad for matches against Wales and Latvia, but returned for this month’s qualifiers against Serbia and Albania. He came off the bench against Serbia and was substituted for Morgan Rogers in the Albania match.

Tuchel commented on the competitive nature of players like Bellingham, acknowledging that they often dislike being substituted, but emphasized the importance of maintaining team standards and respect.

Additionally, the article recalls the racial abuse faced by Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho on social media after they missed penalties in the Euro 2021 final. A mural dedicated to Rashford was also defaced following the match.

Wright concluded by stating, “If you are outspoken, black, and competing at a high level without concern for the opinions of others, that undeniably frightens certain people.”