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Alex Scott has become the latest high-profile black sports expert to receive racist abuse following speculation that the former footballer will become the new host of the BBC’s A Question of Sport.
Scott got the messages online after Game of the Day host Gary Lineker tweeted his approval of the former Arsenal and England defender, calling her “smart, knowledgeable and perfectly qualified for the role.”
Lineker suggested Scott would join the new look program, although the BBC has not confirmed the appointment and said “no talks have been had” about who will replace Sue Barker.
He tweeted: “Congratulations and good luck to @AlexScott for being the new host of Question Of Sport … If you have a problem with Alex getting the job, you may be part of the problem.”
The derogatory comments that followed included some saying that getting the part would be a stuttering exercise, while others said that Scott, who has appeared regularly on Match of the Day, was “inexperienced” but that “his color gives him the job”.
In response, Scott posted a poem on Instagram that he wrote in 2018 about his career and his battle against racism. She said: “Because of the color of my skin, I was that girl who played soccer, because I always wanted to win. I retired from soccer with medals and honors galore, I retired from soccer to open a new door.
“Now I talk about live football on your TV, some want to say that I am checking a box, but that is not me. Soccer is soccer and that’s what I see. Hello, hello, I’m Alex Scott and you know what, soccer is me ”.
Scott is the latest black footballer turned expert on receiving racist abuse after speculating that he would be awarded an excellent job as a presenter.
Former Manchester City right-back Micah Richards received racist messages after it was suggested that he and Scott could be part of a new panel to replace Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas and Phil Thompson on Saturday’s soccer show from Sky Sports.
Richards eventually joined Sky’s soccer coverage as an expert, but was not part of Soccer Saturday’s new lineup alongside Sue Smith, Clinton Morrison, Alan McInally and Glen Johnson.
Richards said the tweets he had received revealed some “uncomfortable truths”, while former Watford and AC Milan forward Luther Blissett said the assumption that Scott and Richards were responsible for firing Soccer Saturday hosts was “ridiculous” .
Barker, a former tennis player, was fired earlier this week after 24 years hosting A Question of Sport. The program’s team captains, Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell, also participated as part of the review, which occurred weeks after Tim Davie became the BBC’s CEO.
Barker said his time at the helm of the show, which the BBC calls the world’s oldest television sports competition, had been a “dream job” but added that he understood that “the BBC wants to take the show in a new direction.” .
