As Racism Persists in EPL, English Football Legend Rooney Calls for Points Deductions and Fines for Clubs

Racism Still a Deep-Rooted Problem in Football

As the issue of racial discrimination continues to persist in the world of football, Wayne Rooney, who played alongside Park Ji-sung at Manchester United, has argued that clubs in the English Premier League (EPL) should face strict punishment whenever incidents of racism occur.

On August 19, Yonhap News reported that Rooney appeared on the BBC podcast, emphasizing, "If fans remain ignorant, racial discrimination will continue to happen. We need to establish serious and robust measures."

Manchester United and English football legend Wayne Rooney have called for more fundamental measures against racial discrimination. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

Previously, on August 16, during the 2025-2026 English Premier League (PL) Round 1 match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo was subjected to racial discrimination by a spectator. Around the 29th minute of the first half, as Semenyo approached the touchline to prepare for a throw-in, a Liverpool fan in a wheelchair was seen pointing and shouting at him. Semenyo reported the incident to referee Anthony Taylor, and the fan was forcibly removed from the stadium by the police.

The incident was immediately investigated. According to CNN UK, Merseyside Police arrested a 47-year-old man on charges of "racially aggravated public order offense." In a statement, police announced, "The man has been released on conditional bail, which includes a ban from attending any accredited football matches in the UK and prohibits him from approaching within one mile of designated stadiums." They added, "The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and we are working closely with the club."

Currently, the Football Association (FA) regulations in England allow for fines or stadium closures to be imposed on clubs that fail to respond after being notified of racial discrimination. However, these are post-incident measures applied only after the fact. Rooney argued that clubs should face immediate and strict sanctions the moment racism occurs. He believes that only then will clubs take active steps to eradicate racial discrimination.

Racial discrimination remains a chronic issue in football

Although this particular incident has been addressed, ongoing racial discrimination continues to be a chronic problem in football. Park Ji-sung and Hwang Hee-chan have both requested an end to the so-called "dog meat song" chant. The lyrics of this song include, "You eat dogs in your homeland. But it could get worse." Son Heung-min (LAFC) also suffered from racially discriminatory language during his time at Tottenham, being subjected to insults such as "not a footballer but a Korean actor," "go sell DVDs," and "dog and rice-eating scammer," which led him to temporarily stop using social media.

It is in response to these ongoing incidents of racial discrimination that Manchester United and English football legend Rooney has called for more fundamental measures. Rooney stated, "To resolve racial discrimination, clubs must be directly impacted. Points should be deducted, or financial penalties imposed. The right people must work with the appropriate organizations to develop effective measures."

On the 16th, during the 2025-2026 English Premier League (PL) Round 1 match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield in Liverpool, England, Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo was subjected to racial discrimination by a spectator. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News

Furthermore, Rooney's comments are rooted in painful experiences from his time as a coach. From 2022 to 2023, Rooney managed DC United in the United States. Recalling that period, he said, "At DC, one of my players was racially abused. He came to me in tears and leaned on my chest. All I could do was hug him." He continued, "Many people may think the words they say are just jokes or meaningless, but they can deeply hurt someone. Greater efforts are needed to help people understand this." Rooney's remarks go beyond criticism of an isolated incident, warning that without systemic change, the problem cannot be solved. Only when strong sanctions hold clubs accountable will the football world be able to break away from racial discrimination.