sky news report on Asian footballers

badcompany · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:37

They are doing a report bemoaning the lack of Asians in football.

Surely if they were good enough they would have been picked up?
I just don't get it, or is it another case of political correctness?

dirtychinchilla · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:38

Three ways to look at it; either they're trying to force positive discrimination, Asians aren't good enough on the whole at football, or the system is inherently racist. Considering the number of foreign and black players in football, I think the racism is unlikely.

I'm sure we've all known a lot of decent Asian footballers.

Zethor · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:40

FIFA is worried about the Asians' Kung Fu skills, they know that if they don't hold them back, they would dominate the world of football.

MissChief · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:41

From what I've read in the past it's just not seen in the Indian, Pakistani and Sikh communities as a valid career choice, even if you are good enough. Parental and peer pressure to go to university and get a 'real' job is immense and doing so reflects on the whole family so the pressure and expectation is very real.

B@Th*nG · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:41

i think this sort of report is just to suggest that there might be socio-economic reasons, not just that asian footballers might be worse than any other race.

B@

badcompany · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:42

So it's not the fa at fault it's the same Asian community that is moaning, lol

pepsilol · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:43

I don't think there are many, and I don't that the asian community really cares either. They can't play football and don't care either. They prefer hockey and cricket.

Looks like someones just trying to stir something up.

philstanbridge · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:43

I think what the news story is getting at in a roundabout way is that some of these clubs only have mediocre coaching facilities and coaches. As a consequence the players only get mediocre training. But surely it is all relevant. Throw some more money at the lower league clubs, introduce better facilities and watch the players grow.

ICEx21 · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:47

MissChief said:
From what I've read in the past it's just not seen in the Indian, Pakistani and Sikh communities as a valid career choice, even if you are good enough. Parental and peer pressure to go to university and get a 'real' job is immense and doing so reflects on the whole family so the pressure and expectation is very real.

This nailed it. Being of Asian descent I've seen a few decent footballers that could have gone far but then packed it in to go become a doctor, lawyer, banker and so on just because they felt they were either letting their family down or because the family pressured them to take another career path.

MooMoo444 · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:48

Do you guys think in the asian football leagues that they have articles on "Where are all the white boys?"

Kainz · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:51

MissChief said:
From what I've read in the past it's just not seen in the Indian, Pakistani and Sikh communities as a valid career choice, even if you are good enough. Parental and peer pressure to go to university and get a 'real' job is immense and doing so reflects on the whole family so the pressure and expectation is very real.

Nail hit head. I'm a Brit born Hindu and have known quite a few indian footballers as I grew up. Sadly due to tradition being as strong as it is in asian communities - especially Gujerati's they ended up going into owning a businesses.

Maundie · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:54

ICEx21 said:
This nailed it. Being of Asian descent I've seen a few decent footballers that could have gone far but then packed it in to go become a doctor, lawyer, banker and so on just because they felt they were either letting their family down or because the family pressured them to take another career path.

I actually saw a BBC report program on it (I think Reggie Yates or someone similar hosted it) some time last year and it basically said that the kids played up to college age and then the families didn't see it as a career path hence why so many stopped playing and went to Uni.

balky12 · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:57

Similar to when people were moaning that there were not enough black football managers.

Why is positive discrimination being rammed down our throats?

Gilly · 15 Aug 2014 at 11:58

dirtychinchilla said:
I'm sure we've all known a lot of decent Asian footballers.

How many can you name?

MissChief said:
From what I've read in the past it's just not seen in the Indian, Pakistani and Sikh communities as a valid career choice, even if you are good enough. Parental and peer pressure to go to university and get a 'real' job is immense and doing so reflects on the whole family so the pressure and expectation is very real.

Whilst I recognise there is some logic in this statement, it doesn't carry for cricket so why should it football?

badcompany · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:00

Colour or race or skill how would you pick players for a competitive team?

It's not rocket science is it.

Rich_L · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:04

balky12 said:
Similar to when people were moaning that there were not enough black football managers.

Why is positive discrimination being rammed down our throats?

There used to be a problem with a lack of black porn stars but ramming it down throats seemed to solve that quite effectively.

kitkat9933 · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:11

Rich_L said:
There used to be a problem with a lack of black porn stars but ramming it down throats seemed to solve that quite effectively.

+1 Internet

ICEx21 · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:17

Gilly said:
How many can you name?

Whilst I recognise there is some logic in this statement, it doesn't carry for cricket so why should it football?

It does actually, sport just doesn't seem like a "proper" career choice in the view of some Asian families.
I think it's more British Asians this affects rather than those in India, Pakistan etc and I reckon it's because some think they have access to this great education over here and the pay is so much better over in the UK it makes sense to get a normal job where as back in those countries the pay isn't as good, the education for some isn't affordable so sport seems to be a good alternative with Cricket being the major winner.

That's just my thoughts on this and a little from experience(not myself but from friends).

Gilly · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:24

You would still expect that, with the sheer volume of people we're talking about (at least half of the global population) there would be a number of sheer superstars that rise out of the crowd. Those that are so naturally talented they can't avoid playing.

We just don't see it.

ICEx21 · 15 Aug 2014 at 12:29

Gilly said:
You would still expect that, with the sheer volume of people we're talking about (at least half of the global population) there would be a number of sheer superstars that rise out of the crowd. Those that are so naturally talented they can't avoid playing.

We just don't see it.

Footballers? Honestly the amount of times I've been over to India I have never seen someone play football...ever. It's cricket, cricket, cricket and then some cricket to finish off. A little hockey and some wrestling but hopefully that changes soon with the new league coming into play.