Euro 2020 is over and not only are we dealing with the disappointment of losing, we’re also having to deal with the embarrassment caused by those so-called “supporters” who think it is acceptable to racially abuse members of the England team - and if that wasn’t bad enough, physically attack Italian supporters leaving the stadium.
Football and other sporting events are supposed to unite people, not divide them. Sport should be a place of love, support and admiration for one another - and for most of us it is, but there are some who spoil it for the rest of us. Older generations will remember how David Beckham, Gareth Southgate and others endured horrendous abuse and threats in previous tournaments.
Frankly, I will find it hard to watch a football match of this magnitude again in the future as a result of what I’ve seen and heard since Sunday night’s game. The only comfort is seeing true supporters (and even those who aren’t mad about football) condemning this vile behaviour and showering these players with adoration and support online. I hope there are other stories of people defending and helping the Italian supporters in days to come.
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At school, physical education is part of the national curriculum and a compulsory component of most children’s education in this country. Not only does it teach them about different sports, it also teaches them important values such as teamwork, communication, respect and sportsmanship.
Euro 2020 shows us the value of sport in FE colleges
Even if PE wasn’t compulsory for you at school, you will still be familiar with these values from playing or watching sport during your life. So where were these values last night in the individuals who hurt innocent players and spectators while at the same time damaged our reputation as being a respectful and tolerant nation? It’s as if the kindness to one another during the Covid pandemic and the impact of the Black Lives Matter campaign had been forgotten about by some and blatantly ignored by others. It highlights that more needs to be done.
We also have one of the worst rates of obesity in the world. Could making some form of physical exercise compulsory for young adults in FE help to reduce this while tackling racism at the same time? I think so. Let’s consolidate the values that sport has taught children at school and help them to continue practising these as they become adults. Let’s encourage staff to join in as well.
A large proportion of colleges have gyms, basketball courts and football pitches and for colleges that don’t have such facilities, Joe Wicks’ online lessons and similar programmes have shown us during the pandemic that keeping fit doesn’t require any equipment - or much time.
As a busy teacher, I find it really difficult to work out consistently during the week. I would relish an hour of physical activity on my timetable during the day that wasn’t during my lunch break, and I would definitely seize this opportunity if it were given to me. Not only would it be beneficial for my physical health, I’m sure it would also help me to relieve stress and boost my productivity.
Some sixth forms and universities keep Wednesday afternoons off timetable for this very purpose, so why can’t FE do it, too?
Kate Watts is a further education lecturer at a college in London
