Ian Wright has accused parts of the English media of targeting Jude Bellingham because they are uncomfortable with a confident black footballer at the top of the game.
Speaking on the YouTube channel The Overlap alongside Wayne Rooney and Gary Neville, the former Arsenal striker said the recent criticism of the Real Madrid midfielder reflects long standing racial biases in English coverage of elite players.
Wright said Bellingham’s talent, presence and self belief have unsettled journalists who prefer black players to be quiet or self effacing. He argued that the most hostile commentary has nothing to do with football and everything to do with control.
According to him, Bellingham’s refusal to mould himself into a compliant public figure has made him a target. Wright noted that the midfielder has never hidden who he is and that this assertiveness has made some outlets uncomfortable.
To support his argument, Wright compared the way different black players are treated. He praised N Golo Kante as widely adored but pointed to the far harsher tone used against Paul Pogba and now Bellingham.
The problem, he said, lies in how certain journalists react to a player who carries himself with charisma rather than modesty. He described a double standard that rewards quietness but punishes confidence.
Recent criticism of Bellingham has included claims that he refused to celebrate a Harry Kane goal against Albania and that he reacted poorly to being substituted.
Both stories have since fallen apart under scrutiny, yet they continue to shape public debate. Wright said the media is inventing disputes because it cannot influence him and because there is little real news before the World Cup.
Neville added his own recollection of Raheem Sterling’s experience of unfair coverage at Manchester City, saying the patterns have barely changed.
