Dear Editor,
Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final has again exposed one of Europe’s most uncomfortable hypocrisies: Black immigrants and their children are celebrated when they win trophies, but treated as threats when they seek dignity, opportunity and belonging.
When players such as Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams wear Spain’s colours and help carry the country to glory, they are embraced as national heroes. Their photographs fill newspapers, politicians congratulate them and supporters chant their names. At that moment, nobody questions whether they are “Spanish enough.”
But away from the football field, people who look like them are routinely told that they do not belong. Migrants are blamed for crime, unemployment, pressure on public services and almost every other social problem politicians cannot solve. Boats carrying desperate Africans are treated as invasions, while political movements build support by promising tighter borders and mass deportations.
The message is difficult to miss: Europe loves Black immigrants when they score goals, win medals and make the nation proud. It is far less enthusiastic about them when they need housing, employment, legal protection or simply the right to live without suspicion.
Many of the players praised as symbols of modern European nations are the sons of families who crossed borders in search of better lives. Their success did not emerge despite immigration. It is part of the immigration story.
Yet sporting success should not be the price of acceptance. A Black child should not have to become an international football star before being recognised as Spanish, French, English or Portuguese. Citizenship and belonging cannot be conditional upon how many goals someone scores.
Spain deserves congratulations for defeating Argentina and winning its second men’s World Cup. However, the celebrations should force the country — and Europe generally — to confront a difficult question.
If immigrant families are Spanish enough when their children lift the World Cup, why are they suddenly foreigners when elections approach?
The applause will eventually fade and the flags will be packed away. The real test is whether the same people celebrating these players today will defend their communities tomorrow.
A Concerned Caribbean Citizen
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Who wrote this article, Mickey Mouse ….
Such a shame for us …. Developing is a word that you ignore
Yes it’s always everyone else’s fault. Never mind that the majority of Africans now immigrating to the EU are doing so illegally. Let’s ignore that and accuse whites of hating blacks. Never mind that when they get to Europe they don’t want to assimilate or adopt their new country’s traditions and culture. If they don’t make an effort to belong them why should the host nation accept them. Get real, because you see the same happening here. Antiguans complain of every other group coming here, whites , Chinese, Santo Domingans. But when it ls Africans and they are all trying to illegally migrate to the US, Antiguans are all is support of them. This is why the world is currently suffering black fatigue. And it will get worse
I agree with this writer!
The black immigrants are treated poorly in France, and Spain in Europe in general
But celebrated and loved and praised when
That same immigrant excels in the sports world!
Such hypocrisy needs to be called out immediately!
Smh!
@Writer. There is a right way to do everything. I don’t see anyone complaining about legal migrants. No right thinking country would want people entering their country illegally and then leeching off its resources. Illegal immigrants are unwanted everywhere. Have you heard what has been happening in South Africa?
The other obvious question is why do people feel the need to always flee their country to the developed ones? Even countries such as Antigua which are described as Upper Middle Income have citizens hiding from ICE in the US.
Perhaps majority black countries need to work on developing so that their citizens will not feel the compulsion to “Break Into” other people’s countries.
@Writer and Concerned Caribbean Citizen.
Caribbean institutions are failing its people. Pay attention to what going on in your own front yard and back yard.
If you feel the need to look beyond our region then take notice the Sudan.
Why?
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied Arab militias are actively committing genocide in Sudan, primarily targeting non-Arab populations in the western Darfur region.
The primary targeted groups include:The Masalit people: The focus of widespread, systematic massacres and ethnic cleansing, particularly in West Darfur.
The Fur and Zaghawa communities: Heavily targeted in attacks, including the brutal siege and takeover of El Fasher in North Darfur.
This genocidal campaign—characterized by targeted ethnic killings, systemic sexual violence, and forced starvation—has led to official genocide determinations from international bodies.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the primary Arab nation providing extensive support to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)
These are Arabs committing genocide against ethnic black peoples.
What do you gave to say about that situation?
Anything?
@ Concerned Caribbean Citizen,
CARICOM is failing Caribbean people
UWI is failing Caribbean people
OAS is failing Caribbean people
The A&B Government is failing its people
As a Concerned Caribbean Citizen recognize the institutional failures across the Caribbean before the way Europeans treat their black sport heroes
Last time I looked they all gave nonblack girl friends or wife’s
In Antigua and Barbuda government is planning a LAW School at UWI Five Islands when we have to import hundreds of Ghanian nurse.
UWI medical school is 53 years old and it is not able to provide and keep the nurses the the Caribbean need.
These are somethings to be Concerned about rather than shallow media coverage.
You hit the nail on the head @Concerned Caribbean Citizen.
Time and time again some of these “fair weather” Caucasians can blow hot and cold in their support for footballers of a different HUE to them.
I’ve read an article where one of England’s and Liverpool Football Club’s, arguably best ever footballer John Barnes had bananas 🍌 thrown at him whilst playing for them; and I’ve seen film evidence of a plane loadbif so-called English fans explaining how they don’t want ANY black players in the England team. Disgusting neanderthals!
And if any black player misses a penalty in an important game, Facebook/X and other social media platforms, the racist comments just goes through the roof with vile hatred and vilification.
The best advice I ever got from my grandma, was whatever a Caucasians tell you, just think the opposite – it could save your life!
AND IF THEY ASK YOU FOR ANY HELP, JUST PICK UP YA TWO FOOT AN’ RUN LIKE THE WIND… 🏃🏾♀️
@Anansi the white Europeans have been illegally entering, stealing, robbing other Nation’s of their wealth and they don’t assimilate to the cultures which they met either.
They annihilate by any and all means necessary.
Why are white, pink, melanin deficient humans so angry at history and its truths?
I will never be for illegal immigration, but come on….humans have been travelers since the dawn of time. The world’s population believe it or not, is because of immigration. No matter the color of your skin or your race, we are all humans, and we will always be moving around.
You will always have criminals/people with criminal intent try to beat the system, but the vast majority of immigrants do so legally.
No one sees the immigrant who is contributing, all the see is the “illegal” immigrant.
It is a pity that the writer failed to put his name to such a beautiful and compelling piece. It is all about RACISM and even more absurd Mbappe and LamineYamal, for example, were born in France and Spain respectively. However, when they perform badly they suddenly become immigrants and called monkeys. That is how deep the racism runs.
@Right Winger. “No right thinking country would want people entering their country illegally and then leeching off its resources. Illegal immigrants are unwanted everywhere.” Guess you have never heard of a country called Antigua and Barbuda! Here an immigrant can jump off a boat/ship swim to shore, hide away for a short while, get a job at some construction or security company. After some time he can produce a rent receipt to prove that he was, “HERE” for some time and qualify for “Hamnesty”. A short time later he applies to be placed on a voter’s list and help to determine the future of Antigua and Barbuda. This has happened to the point that we are now a minority in our own country according to this country’s PM Browne. That is why it is often said that we are not a real place and from the willingness of the US to lump us with the worst, it seems they also feel the same. Point is: we need to clean up out act before we start pointing fingers at others.
And in all that, one of our greatest heroes,who stood up against racism in his plight to send a message that he is also human no matter his skin color, the great ViV Richards, was attacked and insulted by his very own leader because he voice his opinion..That same PM employing the very same weapons that was used against people all across the world to belittle them and embarrassed them because of their monetary status.
So I don’t want to hear it .fix your yard before you dance abroad. How many got up and write their long winded outrage when that happened? Many were silent. Isn’t it the same fruit from the same poisonous tree,putting down your fellow man because he see things different than you?
If you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones!
Call a spade a spade..We have a leader who is one of the most pompous in all of the Carribean.. he’s no different to Trump in putting down both man and woman or anyone who see things different to him. He is one of the biggest name callers and vindicators in our close presence.
Where is the long article about that writer? Yes there is hate in the word,cwe get that, call it all out if your going to write. I call out all hate no matter where it is, because sin is not a color. Cane killed his own brother with that same hate, and Jesus came to his own, and his own knew him not.
The irony of this letter is that these very black athletes are the ones that play right into the hand Europeans as termed and I add the further western world. Across all sports disciplines ones a black athlete is successful he either gravitates to he or she that is of the lighter hue. They either go outrightly to date them or they are pursued by them and be successful. Even in our own backyard where cricket is concerned you see the same thing. Even here in Antigua. Take for instance the fella Joseph. All along he dated a dark skinned girl….now he is known worldwide and made his keep, he is now dating a slim light skin girl…His opposite number from Guyana in his early adult life was a security guard and by virtue of that had to date someone of his complexion and dear I say of a lower strata. However, had he been successful from the early days, he might have found himself with an Indian girl or someone with a lighter complexion as the other cricketers do. Maybe it is just a matter of time before he also ditches what he as and get on the light skin brigade team. So we speak about European and what is observed, but within the black athletes’ mind he or she perpetuates the status quo.
Comments are closed.