Welcome to ‘Don’t Hate the Player, Love the Game’ – a new content series from VERSUS and EE that challenges all football fans to unite against hate. We want to build a culture of proud supporters who are worthy of wearing their national team’s shirt. To join us, you can visit the EE Proud Supporter hub to learn more.

Iqra Ismail is a coach, campaigner and creator who’s committed to make football a safer space for everyone – regardless of gender, ethnicity or religion.

As a Muslim woman who always wanted to play football, Iqra simply didn’t see many people who looked like her at any level of the game. That’s why she founded her own club – one that gave women of all backgrounds the opportunity to play the game in a safe and comfortable environment.

Kindness and advocacy is fundamental to Iqra’s understanding of the beautiful game. In a world that’s still socially divided, she knows that nothing can unite people from different backgrounds like the sport she’s dedicated so much of her life to.

Iqra has partnered with VERSUS and EE to back the ‘EE Proud Supporter’ programme – a bold new campaign that wants to create a football culture that’s free from hate. EE want to ensure every fan who wears their team’s shirt does so with pride.

After featuring in a new film – ‘Don’t Hate the Player, Love the Game’ – Iqra spoke with VERSUS about her love for the England national team, why watching football in public can be challenging for minority groups, and what you can do to be a ‘Proud Supporter’.

VERSUS: What is your name and what do you do?

Iqra Ismail: I’m a coach, player and advocate for all women in football. I want to make the game a safe and beautiful space for people like me to enjoy the game.

What are your earliest memories of international football?

My earliest memory was my entire family in 2006 crowded around the TV to watch the final – I remember Zidane’s headbutt – and that summer was the first time I remember seeing football culture have such a hold on everybody around me, even if they don’t usually watch or play.

What does supporting your country mean to you?

It’s an experience that I can’t equate to anything else, especially being someone that has so many intersections to my identity. I was born and raised in England but I’m very passionate about my Somali background, so I’d go from watching England compete in major tournaments to seeing Somalia play international friendlies. The emotion of international football, and the way it captures everyone around you in the same way, really does leave your heart in your mouth for 90 mins! It’s a beautiful experience and it’s something that you don’t quite get in club football.

Do you identify with the culture of supporting your national team?

The difficult thing about being a muslim woman that enjoys football and grew up supporting England, is that it’s difficult to truly enjoy it when most public spaces are either heavily male-dominated or have lots of alcohol involved. I’m not particularly comfortable with either of those things, so it’s been difficult to find a space where I can truly enjoy the game while not having to compromise my beliefs.

What aspects of supporter culture do you take pride in?

I just love the unity of it. I like the fact that people who might not know each other could see themselves in the street wearing the same shirt, and immediately strike up a bond because of it. That sense of togetherness across the country is amazing – I remember we had it so much in 2018 and 2021, especially in London. It was crazy.

Do you think pro players are the subject of too much criticism and abuse?

It’s easy to forget that these players are human beings, too. They have families and wake up in the morning the same as us, but a lot of the time there’s this impossible standard that some fans expect them to follow. The reality is, footballers make mistakes like everyone else – even when they try their absolute best. In the same way I might have an off day at work, so will they, and nobody should be facing discriminatory abuse because of that.

‍What do you like most about this generation of players?

I like that players feel quite united in this day and age, they all get on with one another. We understand the personalities of players a bit more right now and they seem more human because of that. A lot of players have come out and been open about things like their mental health or off-pitch challenges, it really makes it easier for the young generations to understand that they can acknowledge these feelings too without letting people down.

Why is it important for football to be a tolerant and inclusive space for players and fans?

Football transcends language and the usual barriers people face in connecting with each other. It’s something that should bring people together and there’s so many things in this world that are dividing us already, sport shouldn’t be a place to also house that – it should be an escape from it. 

‍What would your message be to players or fans who are on the receiving end of abuse?

My message would be “we’re with you, we’re standing by you”. A vocal minority doesn’t represent the general population in terms of how we feel and how loved you are. Things go wrong in football – that’s fine – but to be a true supporter you really need to be there for every part of the journey, the ups and the downs, and show love in all of those moments. True supporters don’t turn their backs on people.

‍EE's Proud Supporter programme aims to educate fans and give people the tools to deal with various types of hate. How important is this kind of initiative in making a change in football?

It’s essential. Education defeats ignorance every single time and a resource like EE Proud Supporter gives people the chance to create a more tolerant and welcoming world through the language of football, which is needed more than ever this summer.

EE are committed to bringing people together to stand against hate in football with their ‘Proud Supporter’ programme. Visit the EE Proud Supporter hub to learn more.