Graeme Souness ‘angry’ with himself for not challenging racism

The Scot insists he is better placed now to stand up to discrimination after the Black Lives Matter movement

Graeme Souness has spoken candidly about his regret at failing to challenge racism before in football.

The former Liverpool player and manager was discussing football’s role in helping to implement change after a White Lives Matter banner was flown over the Etihad by a plane before Manchester City vs Burnley.

And the Scot admits he is disappointed in himself for not challenging racism after encountering it twice previously in his career, but now believes he would question anybody who discriminates against others.

“I’m a man in my sixties, and for the very first time in my life I’m questioning myself,” Souness told Sky Sports.

“Only twice in my life, in the football world, and that’s the world I know, was I confronted with racist remarks.

Souness has spoken candidly about his experience with racism in football

(Sky Sports)

“And I didn’t challenge them, and I’m angry with myself now, I brushed it off at the time.

“It wasn’t in the dressing room, it was made by directors at football clubs and I didn’t challenge them at that time.

“I think what’s happened in the last few weeks with Black Lives Matter is that we’ll all question ourselves now, if somebody says something racist, we’ll say something.

“I’m a bit like Joe Hart, I worry about saying the right things, I hear people saying all the time, ‘things have got to change’.

“We need to know what we can do, other than question people who may say something racist in front of us, other than that, how can we improve the situation?

“What can a man of 60-plus do to be more part of the cause?”