“Alex Scott needs to stick to creating an only fans page not talking football.”
@JordanCook8
“Alex Scott’s punditry is classic. Couldn’t have less of a clue about football, Sky literally ticking a box.”
@BendyXVIII
“Qualified? She speaks utter shite 99% of the time.”
@lethal1903
Alex Scott. 140 caps for England. Twenty-two trophies. A Champions League winner’s medal. A BA (Hons) in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting from Staffordshire University.
Now, a target for online trolls. So, what is it about her that gets the trolls so riled up?
It always starts the same way. You switch on the television, put the football on and Alex Scott is there sitting beside a number of fellow football pundits. A decorated ex-footballer, successful for both club and country, and a qualification in sports and broadcasting. An impressive CV, right? But when it comes to commenting on the men’s game; Twitter continually goes into meltdown.
It’s commonplace to see her name trending while she carries out the job she is paid to do. Last night was no different. While the England men’s side fell to defeat at the hands of Denmark, Alex Scott found herself trending on Twitter again.
What follows an even more predictable pattern is the content of the posts. Never offering an insightful opinion on football, but always regurgitating the same old battered clichés and phrases – “A box ticking exercise,” suggestions that she isn’t, “Qualified” and a particular favourite of trolls: “She’s only there because she’s a woman and she’s black.”
Please don’t mistake me for thinking you cannot have an opinion. Diverse opinions are encouraged – without them things would be pretty bland. But find me an opinion that isn’t entrenched in misogyny and racism. A ten minute scroll tells you all there is to know. Her talent is conveniently forgotten by those whose mission it is to undermine, belittle and wound her on account of her gender and race.
Anyone who has witnessed Alex Scott as a pundit will appreciate her knowledge, intelligence and insight into the game. Not everyone is always going to agree with her analysis – that’s football! But take issue with the footballing content, rather than taking to Twitter to project your own insecurities. She’s a woman, she’s black and she’s very good at her job.
Scott’s recent interview with Watford striker Troy Deeney for the Heads Up campaign revealed the extent of online abuse on her mental health: “When I retired, I was getting trolled. I found that I was turning to drink to try and hide everything. Hide what I was feeling.”
This is not something anyone should have to deal with. Yes, she has a job that attracts scrutiny and attention, but what exactly is she guilty of?
Thankfully, in between the vile comments there are positive ones. Stories of people appreciating her work, of young children being inspired to occupy the same space that she does, and people who have changed their opinion on her.
While comments such as the three pinned to this post are still circulating, they are slowly, but surely, becoming a minority. So lets take responsibility for the things we post. Focus on the football instead. There’s no space for misogyny or racism.
SPORT central 