Why are there so few British South Asian footballers? | Football’s Hidden Talent

► Subscribe to Sky Sports News: bit.ly/SkySport...
Football's Hidden Talent explores why British South Asian communities have so few players in elite football. Part One looks at the impact of myths and stereotypes. It is one of English football's most puzzling problems. More than four million people with South Asian heritage live in the UK.
#SkySportsNews #SkySports #FootballsHiddenTalent
► For the latest developments on this story: qrcode.skyspor...
More from Sky Sports on KZbin:
► Sky Sports Retro: bit.ly/SkySport...
► Sky Sports: bit.ly/SkySport...
► Sky Sports Football: bit.ly/SSFootba...
► Sky Sports Boxing: bit.ly/SSBoxingSub
► Sky Sports F1: bit.ly/Subscrib...
► Sky Sports Cricket: bit.ly/Subscrib...
► Sky Sports Golf: bit.ly/Subscri...
► To enquire about licensing Sky Sports News content, you can find out more here: www.skysports....

[@winmugaru6347]

I would actually like to see more south Asian players in the game at the top level. I have played with many Pakistani kids when growing up in reading and they were technically insane but I feel that there families and communities never supported their ambition to play the game so many stop playing seriously after 19 and only play socially on Sundays. Let's work on this get more Asian kids in the game.

[@BM-lb3xs]

This is not a real issue.

[@mtk3755]

Well many indian subcontinent kids are very talented and skillfull our region can be literal another brazil. Kids here are skillful do hardwork just need support

[@zay_kash]

Our parents prioritise us becoming doctors or engineers rather than athletes :/

[@MegaPedro1975]

Parents want doctors innit.

[@Magpie96-yy9ic]

I'm an Asian male now aged 36. This piece is such b@llocks. My parents didn't allow me to go to trials with QPR when I was 8, instead I was told to focus on studies and to get a respectable job. It is not a 'harmful stereotype' to say Asian families tell their kids to focus on studies, it is still in 2024 a FACT. Ridiculous that the guy from Crystal Palace had to take equality and diversity training for speaking facts. Yes there are now third generation Asians growing up so perhaps a few will make it over the next few years but these stupid excuses from within the community (especially the guy at 07:47) really annoy me and yes I'm fully South Asian.

[@TheTemporary1ne]

Search up Esa Suliman people and tell me why this england under 21 star captain didn't make it and has gone abroad.

[@daftwod]

Lol

[@daftwod]

The very idea of an England player "going abroad" is so ridiculous.

[@vdrtgplx584_]

5:18 The system is not blatantly racist but certainly not SA friendly either. Here they clearly say that SAs must develop (not as athletes but) as workers (framing). The parents don't always tell us to just study. They say we have to comply.

[@gregorymartin4767]

Why are they so few british players and managers in the premier league

[@paulstones1451]

They all around Birmingham chasing each other with sticks and trying to run each other over

[@maximumpotential3796]

Answer: Asian parents, especially Indian parents and their extended families do not consider sports as a source of living. They force kids to only concentrate on mainstream jobs especially white-collar jobs like Doctor, Engineer, Lawyer, Civil Service and so on. In many such families, any professions outside the traditionally recognised ones are seen as a failure.

[@Uzaair]

Then why are there south Asian cricketers playing for England? The real reason is that there is a stereotype against south Asians in football (i.e too weak physically, not committed etc). Families are happy to let their kids pursue a career in sports but they seem to be overlooked by clubs

[@maximumpotential3796]

@@Uzaair cricket is high income. In India, Criket is like football for brazil, everyone wants to make it big, even my own elder brother spent years of his life for criket and ended up playing state level for a few years... The BCCI of India are playing with billions, the money players get in leagues and national teams are life changing.

[@Uzaair]

@@maximumpotential3796 and football is low income? Come on, given the choice most British South Asians would choose a lucrative career in football over one in cricket. They'd make much more in football.

[@maximumpotential3796]

@@Uzaair just for context, an avg Indian cricket match or the IPL is watched by billions, sponsorships are through the roofs. Plus the country treats it as a national pride, perhaps one of the few sports India can compete and dominate at a world stage.... meanwhile football is not that popular, many aspiring players often end up having dissapointing returns.. Thats why south asians are not invested much on football as a career

[@mj6115]

We in the UK also need to talk about the complicity of the black community in the undercover racism.

[@gaultyok]

I am so bored of hearing this kind of rubbish. This demographic is not represented here and this demographic is not represented there, its all snooze and basically click bait reporting. If your asian and a damn good footballer you will be playing for a damn good team. you can play football in this country and join a local team or set up a football team its very easy. Problem is i think in my opinion is that its a asian culture thing that wont allow for asian males to become footballers. I am a English 50+ year old baldy headed no teeth chubby scouse guy and my demographic is not represented enough in male modeling.

[@Magpie96-yy9ic]

As a British asian I 100% agree with you. But stories like this usually get a fair bit of coverage ay so tick in the box for Sky!!

[@bkaur-c7u]

the problem i have seen that the scouts who sign these kids never go for south asian players, i have seen some amazing young players who were much better and scored more goals and worked much harder but never got the invite....plus some of these scouts are old guys with old opinions on what is the right player. I agree its about taking south asian kids who have talent but im sure there are plenty of young kids who have talent but they dont want to take the risk.

[@scottadams4655]

What barriers?? The parents are the barriers they want, cricket players, doctors, or financers

[@Deathwink1]

Right lol so somehow black kids don't experience this "barrier"

[@Nigerianreaction]

@@Deathwink1no comparisons here pls

[@zay_kash]

Not even cricket players 😂

[@walincoln7033]

Miriam Walker again, what a surprise the crusader for this tripe is spearheading the notion British Asians aren't givin a fair crack at football

[@daftwod]

Not enough eskimo roadmen.

[@TripInternational-e6p]

Only bangli sylhety have there more than 10 million🇧🇩

[@simondurkin2487]

The underlying tone to this video is crazy, are we suggesting in the 2020s that there’s a global conspiracy to exclude a quarter of the world’s population? Can you imagine how many shirts a world class South Asian player would sell for the club. I agree that the stereotype of the past were an issue but come on, finding amazing south Asian stars would be money in the bank for clubs.

[@KhanSmash]

Unfortunately the tone of this video is the reality that British South Asians go through. It’s actually comments like this, and the fact it’s the top comment, that are the reason the stereotypes continue to stay in today’s day and age.

[@realest2506]

missing the point entirely

[@SMALLAXE.]

Say what you like but what I say is not racism South Asians do not integrate particularly well so simple don't join local teams youth groups etc

[@ireneugeba5282]

What game the kids in South Asia play the most? - Cricket. (correct me if I am wrong) If they loved football like other nations it would be different.

[@BillyWilly-ok4dn]

They’re talking about British south Asian players

[@BFHdovid]

Yeah you missed the point

[@ireneugeba5282]

@@BFHdovid I didn't. British Asians have cricketers as role models and love cricket more than football.

[@marufmehedi9367]

​@@BillyWilly-ok4dnHe's absolutely right, South asians love cricket more than football, currently you have 5-6 south asians playing for England cricket team across Three formats : Moeen, Rashid, Sajid, Robin are some of them

[@Deathwink1]

People just can't admit that 4 million people are not representative of the 2 billion south Asians, why are china and India with 3 billion plus people are rubbish at football.

[@ni3467]

Its pure racism. Many parents try but indirect racism. Defo Asians in UK are more talented in football

[@Beansontoast93911]

What a load of crap. Spending your Sky Sports package money or making such nonsense up, start watching it illegally online. The only thing people in football in this country cares about is talent, 75% of the Premier League are non-English players. so you should be phrase it instead of discrimination against Asians and discrimination against British people. What a joke you are Sky Sports.

[@MrCheegz]

Because mum and dad wanted me to be in the books and not on the pitch

[@RAKIB9444]

where is bengladhis origin players interview??

[@nathancunningham587]

It appears as though BSkyB are funding football clubs who don't employ players from the areas mentioned in the video. People shouldn't be buying a BSkyB subscription to fund football clubs whilst this kind of racism is being broadcasted on the TV.

[@IceClawz.]

coz they prefer cricket probably.

[@nomaan8255]

After this you might as-well say “black people prefer basketball probably”.

[@IceClawz.]

@@nomaan8255 yeah if this was America mate... I see your racial stereotypes are those that are of American origin.

[@Uzaair]

​@@IceClawz. And your stereotypes of south Asians is that of those born and raised in South Asia. People of South Asian heritage, born and raised in the UK, the majority prefer football over cricket

[@farhanpathan2976]

These are not stereotypes it is truth if you say Black players are quicker and they are good at basketball is it wrong or racist? However South Asians maybe not tall and strong compared to others but they can be very good players technically but again no support from family is plays the part it is true, I am south Asian myself and I know it, of course it does not that mean all south asian families do not support their children but majority don't, and its not racist.

[@Random__is__resistance]

Already got more privileges in everything else. Its a crime to be english now days

[@Magpie96-yy9ic]

I agree Dave. Make Britain great again.

[@Shauny121]

Because they tend to pigeonhole themselves into playing only cricket as if it's the only sport in the world lol

[@LeornianCyng]

Absolutely agree. Need lots of pathways up to the Premier League and Women’s Super League.

[@mtk3755]

Before watching the video i can tell exactly why - Cause of the culture and society, people of our descent are promoted to go into more academic fields, rarely sports and if they do its mostly cricket. The ones who go to football dont go to training from young age. Or if they good cant get into indian team because of no dual citizenship available.

[@BFHdovid]

Just get beyond better than what you see? If this is the case just make another one for British Oriental Players since there's actually less of them in the top 4 leagues than whatever the heck this is on about

[@banjopkharkongor7900]

not good enough for sports the reality is

[@Mr_PigeonMan]

because they’re not good enough

[@SaSa-fs8sb]

Comedy . Pure comedy 😆😆😆😆😆

[@bachiltonsbattlegrounds3702]

Woke nonsense

[@SaSa-fs8sb]

Is this a comedy ??.

[@yuni360]

Because they are all playing cricket 😁

[@rcastrovexler2]

Because they play other sports.

[@ricardolee8017]

Its not racist the food u eat gives u something in return and different cultures eat different food fact is most asian footballers are short and not bulky thats a disadvqntage for most players

[@fazz95]

Late to the game

[@paulmachin1198]

Why are there so few African South Asia footballers? You’re welcome. Bore off.

[@pan-africanmovement938]

They are just not talented in football.

[@BM-lb3xs]

Shut up sky sports.