He was part of a generation of non-white players who revolutionised not only the game, but attitudes across the country. What changed was the emergence of men such as Cyrille Regis, the former West Bromwich Albion and England forward born in French Guiana. Xenophobic ditties belted out in the 1970s and 1980s infamously included: “There ain’t no black in the Union Jack/Send the bastards back.” Febrile stadium atmospheres turned poisonous, with groups such as the National Front recruiting at games. This should be cause for immense national pride.īefore hatred of Islam became an obsession among high-profile rabble-rousers and their followers, it was black players who had to put up with racism. They’re also adhering to a distinctly British tradition of tolerance and respect. Those who revere “Egyptian King” Mohamed Salah – the subject of the song – are not just paying tribute to arguably the best player in the Premier League at the moment.
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