Ian Wright passionately defends Jude Bellingham, suggesting recent media criticism stems from racial bias against a confident and successful black player.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has leapt to the defence of Jude Bellingham, arguing that the recent “fierce criticism” directed at the England international stems from racial prejudice.
The backlash followed Bellingham’s visibly frustrated and “reluctant” reaction to being substituted during England’s 2-0 win over Albania in their final World Cup qualifying match on Sunday.
According to a report from The Independent, Bellingham’s coach, Tuchel, addressed the incident by emphasizing behavioral standards.
“I think to a certain degree, if you have players like Jude, who are so competitive, they will never like it,” the German said of the substitution.
“But he has to accept it. We are about standards and level, and commitment to and respect to each other, so someone is waiting outside, and we will not change our decision just because someone is waving their arms.”
Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Wright pushed back against the criticism, arguing that Bellingham’s self-assurance “frightens” some people.
“I’m worried for Jude simply because he’s somebody that they [the media] can’t control,” Wright said. “He’s showing people that I’m here, I’m black, I’m proud, I’m ready to go.”
He elaborated, linking the situation to past treatment of black players: “I don’t think they’re ready for a black superstar, who can move like Jude is moving. They can’t touch him. He goes out there, he performs, he does what he does, he says ‘who else?’”
Wright noted the criticism stems from the player shouting the phrase “who else?” after a late equaliser against Slovakia at Euro 2024, which Bellingham later explained was aimed at his critics.
Wright contrasted Bellingham’s image with N’Golo Kante, saying:
“They all love N’Golo Kante. He’s a humble black man, gets on with what he’s doing… But if you get a [Paul] Pogba, or a Bellingham, and you get that kind of energy, that does not sit well with people.” He concluded:
“This is dragging up from that kind of energy. Because if you are outspoken, black, and playing to that kind of level and not caring, that frightens certain people.”
Prior to the podcast, Wright had taken to social media, commenting on a BBC Sport Instagram post:
“They need to create this kind of beef because there’s nothing else to talk about till the World Cup so it’s gonna be this all the way to the World Cup. They hate that they can’t get to him.
They hate that they can’t negatively influence his club career like they have done to so many before him. A blessed young man with talent and love in abundance.”