Ridiculous how ready to be offended people are.
Who's offended?
What a stupid comment to make.
Why British Asians don't make it pro
- Thread starter shamans
- Start date
Who's offended?
What a stupid comment to make.
Being Pakistani doesn't qualify you to have anything other than your own experience. You don't speak for every Pakistani persons experiences. The rest is equally and absolutely utter nonsense. I'm glad to see your knowledge also stems to Black people's experiences also having 'greater cultural similarities'. Aside from the whole load of other crap you are talking you seem to forget being a Muslim isn't exclusive to be Asian. No black or white Muslim's then?
This kind of stereotypical nonsense feeds racism not challenging it....doesn't surprise me there are few British Asian's in football as it's this kind of ill-informed view that's holding the lads within it from stepping out of it.
Starting point: I know nothing about the UK, Asia and the Premier League.
What would be the best starting 11 of current Premier League players born in the UK of Asian origin (no matter the country)?
And I will do the same with players born in France with African origins
What would be the best starting 11 of current Premier League players born in the UK of Asian origin (no matter the country)?
And I will do the same with players born in France with African origins
Some of the comments on this thread are laughable and that's putting it politely.
Speaking as a British Sikh man, born in this country and having been brought up here, I have been into football as early as I can remember. The whole cricket over football argument is utter rubbish. I hate cricket and I know plenty of other people who have heritage frim the Indian subcontinent, whowhate cricket too.
The comments about whether we identify as Asian or not is a separate issue. I for one, hate the term ''Asian Community," as if all brown people are all one and the same.
There are several major religions in several nations from South Asia and no one from any of those faiths or backgrounds identifies as Asian. They are Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Christians etc and they identify with Britain and the country their parents or grandparents were born in.
Next, the person who posted the joke about corner shops and football is using casual racism to make an inaccurate point. If the powers that be on this forum have any sense or decency that person should be banned, even if they are staff.
Speaking as a British Sikh man, born in this country and having been brought up here, I have been into football as early as I can remember. The whole cricket over football argument is utter rubbish. I hate cricket and I know plenty of other people who have heritage frim the Indian subcontinent, whowhate cricket too.
The comments about whether we identify as Asian or not is a separate issue. I for one, hate the term ''Asian Community," as if all brown people are all one and the same.
There are several major religions in several nations from South Asia and no one from any of those faiths or backgrounds identifies as Asian. They are Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Christians etc and they identify with Britain and the country their parents or grandparents were born in.
Next, the person who posted the joke about corner shops and football is using casual racism to make an inaccurate point. If the powers that be on this forum have any sense or decency that person should be banned, even if they are staff.
This is the natural logical progression for immigrants.
First gen: manual work, factory work, maybe set up a business after a lot of graft and saving.
Second gen: take on that business and make it grow. Invest in other things and send your kids to uni to become professionals so they don't have to work in shops or other businesses
Third gen: professionals, high end businesspeople, investors, send their kids to good schools and provide them with a sound financial base so they can maybe be professional sports people, artists etc, ie any job that is somewhat risky to make it in.
We are at this stage and the kids of these third gen professionals and maybe another generation on will be the ones who make it big in the riskier industries.
Obviously there are exceptions to the rule but the above is why it hasn't happened yet on a large scale or regularly.
First gen: manual work, factory work, maybe set up a business after a lot of graft and saving.
Second gen: take on that business and make it grow. Invest in other things and send your kids to uni to become professionals so they don't have to work in shops or other businesses
Third gen: professionals, high end businesspeople, investors, send their kids to good schools and provide them with a sound financial base so they can maybe be professional sports people, artists etc, ie any job that is somewhat risky to make it in.
We are at this stage and the kids of these third gen professionals and maybe another generation on will be the ones who make it big in the riskier industries.
Obviously there are exceptions to the rule but the above is why it hasn't happened yet on a large scale or regularly.
Not sure but never stopped people having a view about Liverpool fans even if we aren't one. We are all Utd fans on here but doesn't mean we all have a shared experience, in fact reading the stuff on the forum in general you'd wonder at times....
No issue for those who want to openly identify themselves as Asian as a way to say their experiences are validated is only based on their own, and whilst there maybe some common ground, they might have more in common in supporting utd than there culture otherwise that's like someone I'm white English so my experience in Manchester is the same as someone in Cornwall.
Being British (subcontinental) Asian myself... the key reasons are as follows (probably already covered):
Moeen Ali's dad...
If you look at the example of Moeen Ali (he lived down the road to me and went to my primary school) - he only just about broke through into cricket because of his dad's extreme sacrifices, giving up his own career, spending whatever little money he had into providing the relevant training equipment and willing to take him up and down the country for training/games at youth level. He had to defy societal expectations, and his own fathers wishes to risk bringing up Moeen to become a sportsman - he was the first true trailblazer from a british asian sport perspective. In my own generation, I predict there will be more like him on the horizon (I plan on doing the same myself) but it will take years before this comes to fruition in terms of consistent elite player production.
If more indians/pakistanis/bangladeshi's had emigrated to Spain and assuming Spain wasn't as racist, then they would have a much better chance of thriving in spanish football as the way la liga approaches the game, and the pace and style of the game is more compatible with asian culture of heightened technique and tactical intelligence. Furthermore the lack of height/power etc which has always been a key factor in the english game when selecting players to gamble on at youth level, means Asians are going to struggle to break through as there is no one willing to take a risk on them becoming the next Kroos or Modric (these players even if they're white would struggle to break through in English football in the 80's/90's/00s)
This is why I think Arab's tend to do better and Eastern Asians (Korean's and Japanese) because their diets are superior, less butter, salt, big problems with lactose/gluten intolerance and tendencies towards diabetes, osteoarthritis etc etc and it means their bodies are less likely to break down further down the line. I think this is another area which will see change with upcoming generations, but it definitely played a huge factor in my own generation not reaching its potential.
- Our parents (second and first generation Asians) just aren't into football. If you just about beat the barrier of 'sports' is not an acceptable career, then you have to beat the second cultural barrier which is cricket is the number one sport for british asians of the previous generation and the third generation kids (under 30 years of old) would simply not have had the parental support to maximise their footballing potential.
Moeen Ali's dad...
If you look at the example of Moeen Ali (he lived down the road to me and went to my primary school) - he only just about broke through into cricket because of his dad's extreme sacrifices, giving up his own career, spending whatever little money he had into providing the relevant training equipment and willing to take him up and down the country for training/games at youth level. He had to defy societal expectations, and his own fathers wishes to risk bringing up Moeen to become a sportsman - he was the first true trailblazer from a british asian sport perspective. In my own generation, I predict there will be more like him on the horizon (I plan on doing the same myself) but it will take years before this comes to fruition in terms of consistent elite player production.
- Incompatibility with English thunder and blood football/emphasis on physicality Asians are generally very analytical and technical in the way they approach sport. They're not made for huge physical endeavours on the whole, and they prefer to use their mind or skill to beat a challenge. They like to play with flair, and push the boundaries when it comes to technical competance.. that is our culture. Look at cricket, look at the art of spin bowling "doosra" or swing bowling "reverse swing" to name two prominent examples. We are very 'Brazilian' in our lifestyle and mindset - and the style with which we play the game. This makes England a particularly bad cultural fit for Asians to try and break through into the game. English coaches are generally speaking barbaric and very conservative in the way they view the game especially in the 80's and 90's and whilst the english game has become more modernised in recent years, it will be years before we see that lead to asian players finally being able to break through. We like to play with freedom, we like to try out skills and think outside the box.. which runs counter to the english mindset.
If more indians/pakistanis/bangladeshi's had emigrated to Spain and assuming Spain wasn't as racist, then they would have a much better chance of thriving in spanish football as the way la liga approaches the game, and the pace and style of the game is more compatible with asian culture of heightened technique and tactical intelligence. Furthermore the lack of height/power etc which has always been a key factor in the english game when selecting players to gamble on at youth level, means Asians are going to struggle to break through as there is no one willing to take a risk on them becoming the next Kroos or Modric (these players even if they're white would struggle to break through in English football in the 80's/90's/00s)
- Institutional racism - Pretty straightforward this one. Even though we have had plethora of black players come through - how many have made it into management and at board level? which means that the corridors of power, the heads of selection, scouting are going to be white and therefore there is simply no one in power to champion young asian footballers. There are no role models to look up to and no role models looking out for asian footballers. During my time as a coach, I struggled badly myself with institutional racism (being the only asian in a club full of white coaches) and when I tried to recommend any young asian talents I saw when at coaching camps, they were not taken seriously and yet if there was a promising black or white kid... lots of effort would go into ensuring they got enrolled into the Academy set up.
- Physical Prowess (Asian genetics/diet) - As much as Asians will argue that physically they're just as capable as non-asian footballers, and you could look at the game of cricket and make a good argument that some of the fastest bowlers of all time were Pakistani... Imran Khan/Waqar Younis/Shoaib Akhtar were all fabulous athletes, with great speed and flexibility, as a whole Asian's don't tend to raise their kids up particularly well in terms of what are the right things to eat to become a long lasting, sustainable athlete in games which have a lot of physical combat.
This is why I think Arab's tend to do better and Eastern Asians (Korean's and Japanese) because their diets are superior, less butter, salt, big problems with lactose/gluten intolerance and tendencies towards diabetes, osteoarthritis etc etc and it means their bodies are less likely to break down further down the line. I think this is another area which will see change with upcoming generations, but it definitely played a huge factor in my own generation not reaching its potential.
I think many people have touched upon it in this thread.
Simply put getting into a career in Football is massive gamble. The chances of making it Pro are pretty slim. Any kid going into football needs the full support of their parents. Most first generation South Asian parents would not support a career in football as most don't even follow football and they'd prefer you to move to Higher education and obtain a white collar job.
It has massively changed over the past decade as there's 2nd generation parents willing to take the risk. However what we're finding is clubs aren't as interested in South Asians compared to other races. It's understandable though, as Asians tended to drop out of football training after the age of 16 so clubs don't want to invest time into a player who'll leave once he reaches 16.
Once a couple break through i think it'll open the floodgates. In my area there's a football organisation Khalsa FC which supports all age groups and girls football as well and it's run by 2nd generation British Sikhs, the teams mainly full of Sikhs but others can join as well.
I think it just needs time , as the 2nd Generation push through the 3rd generation.
Simply put getting into a career in Football is massive gamble. The chances of making it Pro are pretty slim. Any kid going into football needs the full support of their parents. Most first generation South Asian parents would not support a career in football as most don't even follow football and they'd prefer you to move to Higher education and obtain a white collar job.
It has massively changed over the past decade as there's 2nd generation parents willing to take the risk. However what we're finding is clubs aren't as interested in South Asians compared to other races. It's understandable though, as Asians tended to drop out of football training after the age of 16 so clubs don't want to invest time into a player who'll leave once he reaches 16.
Once a couple break through i think it'll open the floodgates. In my area there's a football organisation Khalsa FC which supports all age groups and girls football as well and it's run by 2nd generation British Sikhs, the teams mainly full of Sikhs but others can join as well.
I think it just needs time , as the 2nd Generation push through the 3rd generation.
Forget current. It would be a push to name an all time starting 11
Please don't post this kind of nonsense. Its stereotypical and factual wrong. Asian communities represent some of the poorest 5% in the country. That is not everyone's life map. Just stop.
Not sure when someone who fishes ever thought of it as a career until maybe someone told them they are really good at it and even then it's still a big leap to get someone to pay you to do it. Can't speak for everyone but my lad playing at academy's was never so I could retire early, was as a parent you encourage your children in whatever they want to do and maybe even more so when they find something they are particularly good at. All the other stuff at that point are as irrelevant as putting the lottery numbers on in case you get rich.
Probably because of Millwall fans.
You're wrong mate. The poster you replied to made a number of valid points. You're far too quick to dismiss them.
Of course it doesn't represent everyone but from a wider picture it's bang on. In the UK the Indian communities were on average the wealthier ones, as those that immigrated came from wealth already, whereas the Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are lower income as they immgrated from poorer areas (Kashmir/Punjab and Sylhet). Over the last few years that's started to change, not hugely but there has been change, as the kids of those communities have gone through the education system in the UK and are now working professionals. I think the next generation, i.e. in 10-15 years time, will have a decent number of Asian footballers that come from the kids of the current 20 year olds.
You're talking nonsense now. You're dismissing any points which dont match your own views or opinions.
Where I am from, all the Asian lads love football and even had their own league. There are other factors at play
I think whilst I don't agree with some of the stereotypical views shared on here, I think there is a barrier as the perception of football clubs are tainted by negative racist stereotypes. This not only included the clubs but equally the media and only recently we have seen how these attitudes are reported. It's not dissimilar to the police or the army, and although both have tried to portray themselves differently, the numbers of BAME people are low. Trust me it's not easy to encourage your son and daughter to enter into football institutions that you know they are going to be judge by their colour......
No, I fundamentally believe and factually know that yours are wrong. Own your own experiences rather than speak about them like they are everyone's....
Wasn’t their that Clarke Carlisle documentary that showed that some English clubs were told not to recruit any Asian kids?
I can only speak from personal experience about a club in the lower leagues asking a player to not use his Pakistani origin surname if he impressed them at the trial.
I can only speak from personal experience about a club in the lower leagues asking a player to not use his Pakistani origin surname if he impressed them at the trial.
Not wrong because that is his experiences and he talks like they are everyone's. I can't post on here that because I'm a Utd fan, then that's every Utd fans experience.
The wider picture means nothing because it's a generalisation and excludes as many as it includes and loses the individual experiences which is what this is all about. Professional footballers represent a really small cohort of people. Proportionally the numbers are low against how many white people that play that become footballers. Imo there are probably more things that people have in common about why they don't become professional footballers than their race or colour. The amount of people that come through isn't about more playing it. Look at the prem teams and how few English players there are? Look at how few players that played u18 for England don't go on to play professional. Look how few British managers (not to mention Black managers) there are or British owners of clubs.
The issues are much deeper than the stereotypical view that some hold from the 70's and 80's.....
You know what is factually wrong? You're talking out of your arse here and everyone knows it. I've not spoken about anyone else's experience or mine as a matter of fact, so I have no idea what you're talking about. You seem to be replying to people with the same generic response, without taking anything onboard.
So what you're saying is that you pulled that out of thin air and have no statistics to back up what you're saying? The OP asked what are the reasons for the lack of Asians in top level football, and people have posted various reasons, but each one for you is stereotypical. What are you finding hard to understand here? Most Asian immigrants from the older generations want their children to pursue higher education as they see this the safest route to success, which means more money to help with poverty as most Asians like you said make up a large chunk of the poorer communities here. Playing sport as a profession is a non starter, as it's a huge gamble and the same effort in other areas would get you a more guaranteed job/wage. Nobody is saying this is the story for every asian in the country like you keep mentioning, but most would agree with this. The upcoming generations who have managed to secure these jobs through education will be able to to take the 'gamble' of trying to help their children in pursuing careers on sport as failure would not matter as much as it would have for the older generations who needed secure jobs.
This is not the story for every asian in the country, but based on my experience with all my asian mates this is how their life has panned out. One of my mates was at the Villa academy, and as far as I know he was pretty close to making it, but he's parents insisted he go to University to study Econ rather than pissing about with football. So rather than dismissing everything as a stereotype, and making out like you have facts that are to the contrary, maybe you should respect that these are events people have actually experienced.
You need to relax man.
How are you going to tell a pakistani or asian about what happens in their own communitites and experiences they face.
Bloody hell.
How do you know that I'm not Asian? What you are talking about isn't unique to being Asian, imo it's applicable to everyone. Do you think that working hard and getting an education is applicable to one community? Do you not think that others haven't discouraged their children or stop them who aren't Asian? Do you like other cultures don't see sport as anything other than something you do recreationally?
Dont you think we all don't see sport as a gamble or maybe we don't think education is as important as you choose to generalise about 'your' community. Because I don't agree with them, doesn't mean I have respect your views especially when I think they cause more damage than good. It portrays something that doesn't sit comfortably with me as it suggests other cultures don't view education in the same way and would as you say "piss about" with football. Can come across a bit arrogant imo....
So you assuming that I'm not Asian? Why's that then?
fecking bullshit. What qualifications do you have to judge my opinion?
How many British Muslims are professional footballers? The significant and rising hatred of muslims in the white non working class who form a significant minority in and around football have held us back. The stats speak for themselves. The only Muslims in football in Britain are those who were successful abroad, enabled by other countries to succeed.
https://news.sky.com/story/brexit-v...lim-footballers-at-grass-roots-level-11172510
Afrocarribean Black people in Britain do have a greater cultural similarity with white British people. For a start you have a long history, British people enslaved the black people who formed the population of the Caribbean. Secondly you share a common language and religion (forced upon the slaves by the plantation owner too). I'm not surprised you don't see that though. Religion and language are a huge part of culture - just having an understanding of the "other" helps reduce the sense of the "unknown" and makes it easier to assimilate.
Also you keep bleating on about prison populations, first and foremost the system is proven to be biased and black and Asian men are statistically more likely to be sent to prison that white offenders of the same offence.
http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/WhatWeDo/ProjectsResearch/Race
Also Asians make up less than 10% of the prison population in the country.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAJegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw1QXEdRutpqTkp93H5IqJhD
Meanwhile we make up;
- 30% of medical staff in the NHS including 37% of consultants being South Asian.
- We also make up about 30% of Pharmacists.
- 14% of lawyers are from a BAME background,
- and nearly a quarter of accounts are from the same background.
If if helps you sleep at night you can make up whatever you like, but the facts speak for themselves.
We're under represented in football partly because of discrimination and partly because our culture is setup to get a job rather than trying to be a sports star. We're primarily economic immigrants, the focus our of immigration was wealth creation. Though being a footballer might earn you bazillions, the chances of getting there are low, the stats don't make sense to try that long shot. That's also why you won't see many of us studying the arts or humanities because those degrees don't land us jobs.
Last edited:
Seriously are you just replying for the sake of replying? I don't give a toss if you're Asian, in none of my posts have I even insinuated you being Asian or not actually matters, have I? Again, everything you've mentioned you've just pulled out of thin air and nothing I have actually said
. This is a thread specifically asking about lack of Asians in the game, so thats why I have focused my reply towards that. I've not mentioned what other communities would find important or not as its not applicable here. But if you're curious then I do think most people would have a similar view as professional football is extremely difficult to get into like I highlighted in my first post, that wasn't only applied to the Asian community. This is my last response on this, as I find all your responses are just you talking to yourself rather than what others have to say.
White man, that's bit racist as I haven't said what I am or not. You'll find the Brexit vote increased the number of racially atracks in general.
It's laughable your understanding about Black History. You know Black is a social construct and if you talking about the Caribbean and they speak French, Spanish and Dutch.
First I said growing population in prison and you know 10% is double the proportion of Indian and Pakistani in England (4.9%). Not stigmatising any group but this was from an original post that suggests everyone was going off to be doctors or lawyers.
Not sure what the other stats are about or their relevance.
Honestly if a white person talked about their culture 'being set up' in the arrogant way how to portray it, they'd be branded a racist. No sports stars in Pakistan then? You won't see many of 'us'.....that's elitist and I'm embarrassed by that crap. I'm done and like I said, that nonsense doesn't represent everyone.......
What does having their own league having to do with becoming a pro though? I'm sorry, but there league is most likely a shit level. Loving football and having your own league doesn't make you any good at football. In fact, having their own league only makes them worse.
Or something in IT
As a British Asian, I do think it’s a cultural thing. I grew up with a lot of Asians, and everyone loved football. We all loved playing and watching it. All our parents were not born in the uk, and when they came to the uk, they had to work hard. And I feel like that’s the ideals they put to their kids. Education becomes a big deal, and sports would at most be a hobby. I have played with a lot of different players (I am an extremely average player), and I have seen at younger ages, a lot of Asian players who seemed technically decent. But, I never met any Asian who’s first thought was, I want to become a football player, because our parents kind of instil it in to us to get educated and find a job in that field. And because of that, even the ones that at a younger age showed enough promise, would not develop at the right age in to someone who could become a professional footballer.
But I think you’ll see changes in the third generation. Because, you will see people my age who will have children, and i feel like if they saw promise in their child, in football, would probably encourage them, and more importantly they would have the knowledge of where to send their kids to get noticed, while our parents, wouldn’t have a clue in doing that.
But I think you’ll see changes in the third generation. Because, you will see people my age who will have children, and i feel like if they saw promise in their child, in football, would probably encourage them, and more importantly they would have the knowledge of where to send their kids to get noticed, while our parents, wouldn’t have a clue in doing that.
I'm second generation and culture plays a massive part, cricket was the main sport, its actually the only time our community got together and created functual clubs. Also don't agree 100% about the education angle as I knew a few kids who's fathers would pay for professional training and drive their kids up and down the country in the persuit of making it pro. Also playing in Sunday leagues isn't the most pleasant experience being brown, that's why most of the Asian kids end up playing casually together in 5 a side tournaments.
But I do think the attitude is changing with the third generation and the asians that were brought up here will be more open to their kids pursuing football as a career, hopefully a superstar will be born in the near future.
But I do think the attitude is changing with the third generation and the asians that were brought up here will be more open to their kids pursuing football as a career, hopefully a superstar will be born in the near future.
I think after reading some of the racist nonsense on this thread, it has opened my eyes to exactly how a lot of non Asian people do not get it.
I had no idea that some seemingly intelligent, open-minded people could harbour such racist, narrow minded views. Wow.
What is more alarming is, I call these people fellow United fans. I for one am deeply troubled by this, and don't think this forum is for me after reading it and contributing for several years.
Cue the ''dont let the door hit you on the way out' comments!
But seriously, some of you need to have a look in the mirror, as you don't know the first thing you are commenting about.
Don't tell Asian people what their lives and cultures are about when you haven't lived those lives or experienced the intricacies of those cultures.
I had no idea that some seemingly intelligent, open-minded people could harbour such racist, narrow minded views. Wow.
What is more alarming is, I call these people fellow United fans. I for one am deeply troubled by this, and don't think this forum is for me after reading it and contributing for several years.
Cue the ''dont let the door hit you on the way out' comments!
But seriously, some of you need to have a look in the mirror, as you don't know the first thing you are commenting about.
Don't tell Asian people what their lives and cultures are about when you haven't lived those lives or experienced the intricacies of those cultures.
I don't want to sound accusatory to anyone here, but everybody is getting het up about the 'Asian experience', both Asians and non Asians.
I've seen it blamed on the Asian mentality, even though I know Asian defenders and Asian flair forwards.
I've seen it blamed on the Asian family culture, but I can point out single parent working class families and high achieving stable families from the same subset of Asian families.
I've seen it blamed on Asian physicality, but I'm from a Jatt Sikh family who were all 6 foot plus with well developed beards at the age when half of you lot were still singing soprano in the choir.
I've seen it blamed on the love of Asian sports, despite pretty much everyone Asian commenting on hear saying that it's always been football first for them
Maybe it's not an Asian anything. Maybe there's something else happening here. And if you were one of those in the football system at the time and are saying you didn't see racism or descrimination, no one saw when the coaches were assulting young players either.
I've seen it blamed on the Asian mentality, even though I know Asian defenders and Asian flair forwards.
I've seen it blamed on the Asian family culture, but I can point out single parent working class families and high achieving stable families from the same subset of Asian families.
I've seen it blamed on Asian physicality, but I'm from a Jatt Sikh family who were all 6 foot plus with well developed beards at the age when half of you lot were still singing soprano in the choir.
I've seen it blamed on the love of Asian sports, despite pretty much everyone Asian commenting on hear saying that it's always been football first for them
Maybe it's not an Asian anything. Maybe there's something else happening here. And if you were one of those in the football system at the time and are saying you didn't see racism or descrimination, no one saw when the coaches were assulting young players either.
This is some next level stupidity.
British = Footballing dinosaurs.
Asian = Higher level of thinking and technique blah blah blah. More like Brazilians that have been held back by the English....except they've not exactly done anything in any other league in the world either.
I've played with and against a lot of Asian players as there are large communities where I'm from. A lot play like they think they're Brazilian but you figure them out within the first two minutes of the game because they are so greedy. From those I've played with there hadn't been a lot of football intelligence, which is quite the opposite from what you've said.
Last edited:
Amateur level is full of Asians. Sunday league , power league centres always has loads of Asian players.
Most has been covered, but I'd say it comes down to:
Lack of parental support from early generations
Racism and stereotyping
Generally a poor athletic base genetically
Poor diets
Bad fit with the British football culture. Asians tend to have good technical ability but lack the athleticism required for 11 a side football
No role models
Weirdly everyone that has made it at a decent level has been mixed race. Neil Taylor, Chopra and recently Hamza Choudary. Kind of like when Nasser Hussain was the first big name Asian cricketer to play for England before eventually full Asians made it through.
I'm Asian, and I hope to see a British Asian make it at the top level and represent England in my lifetime. I have my doubts though.
Most has been covered, but I'd say it comes down to:
Lack of parental support from early generations
Racism and stereotyping
Generally a poor athletic base genetically
Poor diets
Bad fit with the British football culture. Asians tend to have good technical ability but lack the athleticism required for 11 a side football
No role models
Weirdly everyone that has made it at a decent level has been mixed race. Neil Taylor, Chopra and recently Hamza Choudary. Kind of like when Nasser Hussain was the first big name Asian cricketer to play for England before eventually full Asians made it through.
I'm Asian, and I hope to see a British Asian make it at the top level and represent England in my lifetime. I have my doubts though.
I disagree to an extent. I’m not saying Asians primarily self identify as Asian above all else but for South, East, and South East Asians at least, it’s very common to indetify that way than for a white British person to identify as European.
I’m not Indian myself, but a lot of Indians I know would identify with their regional identity more strongly than their national identity. It’s perfectly normal for an Indian in the west to identify as Punjabi, Sikh, Indian, desi and Asian all at the same time.
Your posting in here is coming across a bit confrontational, unnecessarily. A few people in this thread have said Asians love cricket and aren't into football, hence the reason very few break into the professional level. I imagine his post was meant as a counter to that argument.
In terms of football, the cultural reasons behind the lack of Asian participation in football are primarily the same across the board. The stereotype of the career focussed Asian who wants to please his parents by excelling in education and becoming a doctor or lawyer is just as real amongst Chinese and Filipinos as it is for Indians.
While Asia is hugely diverse and multicultural, I would argue that Asian values are pretty universal.