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VERSUS and Spotify have come together to launch 'The Equaliser', a new film that closely examines the role of racial inequality in women's football through the lens of three professional new gen players.Hosted by rapper and women's football advocate, Guvna B, and influential coach and mentor, Tyra Mills, we opened up valuable space for a conversation that football continues to overlook: why are there so few non-white players in the women's game?Racial inequality is one of the biggest problems plaguing women’s football. Not a single non-white player was selected in the starting XI during the Lionesses' Euros win in 2022, while only two Black or mixed heritage players were part of this summer's Women's World Cup squad. And while 34% of Premier League players are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, in the professional women's game that number drops to just 9.7%.To break this down, Guvna B and Tyra Mills linked up with three players from the pro game who are making waves in their own right and tackling this change head on – whether it's through providing representation, uplifting others, or support the movement for racial equality as an ally.Fresh from her exploits down under by helping Jamaica to the knockout stage of the Women's World Cup for the very first time, Southampton's Atlanta Primus joined us to talk alongside Charlton's Karin Muya, and Watford's Charlotte Fleming.All three players have been active participants in Spotify's partnership with She Plays Football, which works to improve participation among Black and minority ethnic players. Over the summer, up to 600 girls in Barnet and surrounding North London areas were offered free 90-minute football training sessions, with Primus, Muya and Fleming all helping to deliver sessions and inspire the girls to chase greatness.That same principle carries across into 'The Equaliser', with Primus and Muya sharing their experiences and lessons from being Black and mixed heritage players at the highest level, and Fleming underling how important it is for white players and fans to help create an environment that makes football as inclusive as it can be. Atlanta Primus on the importance of visible role models:“My role model was Rachel Yankey, I’m a big Arsenal supporter. I loved everything about her really and seeing someone that looked like me playing football was a big thing. It was always hard not to see as many Black women playing at the highest level but personally, I use it as motivation because I want to be able to be in a position where younger people look up to me: ‘she’s got curly hair, her skin’s like mine’. It is changing slowly.”Karin Muya on dealing with discriminatory abuse:“I wonder sometimes whether I’ve got a tough exterior, or if I’m better at dealing with adversity because I’ve had to deal with it? Often as a young Black girl or a person of colour who’s achieved things, you’re often doing so in spite of what you’ve dealt with. When you see men commenting on women’s football, it’s not professional players commenting on the quality of our football, it’s lads in the pub who have no touch! I don’t understand, it’s really insecure and people being intimidated by our presence. It says you’re threatened by us being here, and so we’re going to continue to stay here and continue to take up these spaces.”Charlotte Fleming on the importance of allyship:“Allyship is the key to success. In any community, if you’re together as one and you’re seen as equals, the only way is up. I’m here to support my friends and sometimes you do feel helpless because you can’t fully relate to how they feel and it’s difficult because you try your best to put yourself in that situation, but you’ll never be able to know how it feels. You just have to show your love and support, that’s how teams achieve the most – when everyone is seen as an equal and when there’s no hierarchy.”Watch ‘The Equaliser’ now in the player above.
VERSUS and Spotify Launch 'The Equaliser', a Film Exploring Racial Inequality in Women's Football
Guvna B and Tyra Mills meet pro players who are changing the narrative around racial equality in the women's game.
VERSUS and Spotify Launch 'The Equaliser', a Film Exploring Racial Inequality in Women's Football
Guvna B and Tyra Mills meet pro players who are changing the narrative around racial equality in the women's game.
VERSUS and Spotify have come together to launch 'The Equaliser', a new film that closely examines the role of racial inequality in women's football through the lens of three professional new gen players.Hosted by rapper and women's football advocate, Guvna B, and influential coach and mentor, Tyra Mills, we opened up valuable space for a conversation that football continues to overlook: why are there so few non-white players in the women's game?Racial inequality is one of the biggest problems plaguing women’s football. Not a single non-white player was selected in the starting XI during the Lionesses' Euros win in 2022, while only two Black or mixed heritage players were part of this summer's Women's World Cup squad. And while 34% of Premier League players are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, in the professional women's game that number drops to just 9.7%.To break this down, Guvna B and Tyra Mills linked up with three players from the pro game who are making waves in their own right and tackling this change head on – whether it's through providing representation, uplifting others, or support the movement for racial equality as an ally.Fresh from her exploits down under by helping Jamaica to the knockout stage of the Women's World Cup for the very first time, Southampton's Atlanta Primus joined us to talk alongside Charlton's Karin Muya, and Watford's Charlotte Fleming.All three players have been active participants in Spotify's partnership with She Plays Football, which works to improve participation among Black and minority ethnic players. Over the summer, up to 600 girls in Barnet and surrounding North London areas were offered free 90-minute football training sessions, with Primus, Muya and Fleming all helping to deliver sessions and inspire the girls to chase greatness.That same principle carries across into 'The Equaliser', with Primus and Muya sharing their experiences and lessons from being Black and mixed heritage players at the highest level, and Fleming underling how important it is for white players and fans to help create an environment that makes football as inclusive as it can be. Atlanta Primus on the importance of visible role models:“My role model was Rachel Yankey, I’m a big Arsenal supporter. I loved everything about her really and seeing someone that looked like me playing football was a big thing. It was always hard not to see as many Black women playing at the highest level but personally, I use it as motivation because I want to be able to be in a position where younger people look up to me: ‘she’s got curly hair, her skin’s like mine’. It is changing slowly.”Karin Muya on dealing with discriminatory abuse:“I wonder sometimes whether I’ve got a tough exterior, or if I’m better at dealing with adversity because I’ve had to deal with it? Often as a young Black girl or a person of colour who’s achieved things, you’re often doing so in spite of what you’ve dealt with. When you see men commenting on women’s football, it’s not professional players commenting on the quality of our football, it’s lads in the pub who have no touch! I don’t understand, it’s really insecure and people being intimidated by our presence. It says you’re threatened by us being here, and so we’re going to continue to stay here and continue to take up these spaces.”Charlotte Fleming on the importance of allyship:“Allyship is the key to success. In any community, if you’re together as one and you’re seen as equals, the only way is up. I’m here to support my friends and sometimes you do feel helpless because you can’t fully relate to how they feel and it’s difficult because you try your best to put yourself in that situation, but you’ll never be able to know how it feels. You just have to show your love and support, that’s how teams achieve the most – when everyone is seen as an equal and when there’s no hierarchy.”Watch ‘The Equaliser’ now in the player above.
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VERSUS and Spotify Launch 'The Equaliser', a Film Exploring Racial Inequality in Women's Football
Guvna B and Tyra Mills meet pro players who are changing the narrative around racial equality in the women's game.
VERSUS and Spotify have come together to launch 'The Equaliser', a new film that closely examines the role of racial inequality in women's football through the lens of three professional new gen players.Hosted by rapper and women's football advocate, Guvna B, and influential coach and mentor, Tyra Mills, we opened up valuable space for a conversation that football continues to overlook: why are there so few non-white players in the women's game?Racial inequality is one of the biggest problems plaguing women’s football. Not a single non-white player was selected in the starting XI during the Lionesses' Euros win in 2022, while only two Black or mixed heritage players were part of this summer's Women's World Cup squad. And while 34% of Premier League players are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, in the professional women's game that number drops to just 9.7%.To break this down, Guvna B and Tyra Mills linked up with three players from the pro game who are making waves in their own right and tackling this change head on – whether it's through providing representation, uplifting others, or support the movement for racial equality as an ally.Fresh from her exploits down under by helping Jamaica to the knockout stage of the Women's World Cup for the very first time, Southampton's Atlanta Primus joined us to talk alongside Charlton's Karin Muya, and Watford's Charlotte Fleming.All three players have been active participants in Spotify's partnership with She Plays Football, which works to improve participation among Black and minority ethnic players. Over the summer, up to 600 girls in Barnet and surrounding North London areas were offered free 90-minute football training sessions, with Primus, Muya and Fleming all helping to deliver sessions and inspire the girls to chase greatness.That same principle carries across into 'The Equaliser', with Primus and Muya sharing their experiences and lessons from being Black and mixed heritage players at the highest level, and Fleming underling how important it is for white players and fans to help create an environment that makes football as inclusive as it can be. Atlanta Primus on the importance of visible role models:“My role model was Rachel Yankey, I’m a big Arsenal supporter. I loved everything about her really and seeing someone that looked like me playing football was a big thing. It was always hard not to see as many Black women playing at the highest level but personally, I use it as motivation because I want to be able to be in a position where younger people look up to me: ‘she’s got curly hair, her skin’s like mine’. It is changing slowly.”Karin Muya on dealing with discriminatory abuse:“I wonder sometimes whether I’ve got a tough exterior, or if I’m better at dealing with adversity because I’ve had to deal with it? Often as a young Black girl or a person of colour who’s achieved things, you’re often doing so in spite of what you’ve dealt with. When you see men commenting on women’s football, it’s not professional players commenting on the quality of our football, it’s lads in the pub who have no touch! I don’t understand, it’s really insecure and people being intimidated by our presence. It says you’re threatened by us being here, and so we’re going to continue to stay here and continue to take up these spaces.”Charlotte Fleming on the importance of allyship:“Allyship is the key to success. In any community, if you’re together as one and you’re seen as equals, the only way is up. I’m here to support my friends and sometimes you do feel helpless because you can’t fully relate to how they feel and it’s difficult because you try your best to put yourself in that situation, but you’ll never be able to know how it feels. You just have to show your love and support, that’s how teams achieve the most – when everyone is seen as an equal and when there’s no hierarchy.”Watch ‘The Equaliser’ now in the player above.
VERSUS and Spotify Launch 'The Equaliser', a Film Exploring Racial Inequality in Women's Football
Guvna B and Tyra Mills meet pro players who are changing the narrative around racial equality in the women's game.
VERSUS and Spotify have come together to launch 'The Equaliser', a new film that closely examines the role of racial inequality in women's football through the lens of three professional new gen players.Hosted by rapper and women's football advocate, Guvna B, and influential coach and mentor, Tyra Mills, we opened up valuable space for a conversation that football continues to overlook: why are there so few non-white players in the women's game?Racial inequality is one of the biggest problems plaguing women’s football. Not a single non-white player was selected in the starting XI during the Lionesses' Euros win in 2022, while only two Black or mixed heritage players were part of this summer's Women's World Cup squad. And while 34% of Premier League players are from ethnically diverse backgrounds, in the professional women's game that number drops to just 9.7%.To break this down, Guvna B and Tyra Mills linked up with three players from the pro game who are making waves in their own right and tackling this change head on – whether it's through providing representation, uplifting others, or support the movement for racial equality as an ally.Fresh from her exploits down under by helping Jamaica to the knockout stage of the Women's World Cup for the very first time, Southampton's Atlanta Primus joined us to talk alongside Charlton's Karin Muya, and Watford's Charlotte Fleming.All three players have been active participants in Spotify's partnership with She Plays Football, which works to improve participation among Black and minority ethnic players. Over the summer, up to 600 girls in Barnet and surrounding North London areas were offered free 90-minute football training sessions, with Primus, Muya and Fleming all helping to deliver sessions and inspire the girls to chase greatness.That same principle carries across into 'The Equaliser', with Primus and Muya sharing their experiences and lessons from being Black and mixed heritage players at the highest level, and Fleming underling how important it is for white players and fans to help create an environment that makes football as inclusive as it can be. Atlanta Primus on the importance of visible role models:“My role model was Rachel Yankey, I’m a big Arsenal supporter. I loved everything about her really and seeing someone that looked like me playing football was a big thing. It was always hard not to see as many Black women playing at the highest level but personally, I use it as motivation because I want to be able to be in a position where younger people look up to me: ‘she’s got curly hair, her skin’s like mine’. It is changing slowly.”Karin Muya on dealing with discriminatory abuse:“I wonder sometimes whether I’ve got a tough exterior, or if I’m better at dealing with adversity because I’ve had to deal with it? Often as a young Black girl or a person of colour who’s achieved things, you’re often doing so in spite of what you’ve dealt with. When you see men commenting on women’s football, it’s not professional players commenting on the quality of our football, it’s lads in the pub who have no touch! I don’t understand, it’s really insecure and people being intimidated by our presence. It says you’re threatened by us being here, and so we’re going to continue to stay here and continue to take up these spaces.”Charlotte Fleming on the importance of allyship:“Allyship is the key to success. In any community, if you’re together as one and you’re seen as equals, the only way is up. I’m here to support my friends and sometimes you do feel helpless because you can’t fully relate to how they feel and it’s difficult because you try your best to put yourself in that situation, but you’ll never be able to know how it feels. You just have to show your love and support, that’s how teams achieve the most – when everyone is seen as an equal and when there’s no hierarchy.”Watch ‘The Equaliser’ now in the player above.
