The journey from being a target of racist vitriol to a celebrated hero on the same terraces is a stark reality for former England striker Emile Heskey. He recalls an incident as a teenager, being chased from Leicester City’s old ground by a man hurling racial slurs—a man who would, years later, be chanting his name. This contradiction underscores a persistent blight on the game he loves.
Heskey is now channeling these experiences into action. He has helped develop a new digital tool, the Football Safety App, designed to give fans a direct channel to report abuse of all kinds at matches. His motivation is deeply personal, rooted in protecting the next generation, including his own sons who are now emerging as professionals at Manchester City.
The problem, he argues, has not diminished but evolved. While abuse in stadiums remains, the rise of social media has created a relentless, accessible platform for hatred. The situation is particularly acute for women in football, Heskey observes, drawing from his work with Leicester’s women’s team. Female players and commentators face a disproportionate barrage of abuse, a trend exacerbated by the increased visibility following the Lionesses’ successes.
“The old advice was to ignore it, to turn the other cheek,” Heskey states. “But why should anyone have to ignore abuse? That era is over. We shouldn’t be telling people to ignore it; we should be empowering them to report it and ensuring there are consequences.”
The app functions as a central reporting hub, with security professionals liaising directly with stadium officials and police. For Heskey, it’s a practical step toward making football a safer space for everyone—from young fans to professional players like his sons, Reigan and Jaden.
He admits that discussing racism with his children is a difficult conversation, one he hasn’t formally initiated. “They’ve seen it. They’ve seen me go through it,” he says, trusting that a strong family network will support them if confronted by prejudice.
His protective instinct extends to their development on the pitch. Heskey made a conscious effort to remain unseen during their academy days, believing a player’s focus should be solely on the coach, not the sidelines. He criticises the modern culture of over-involved parents, recalling an era where training was a sanctuary for concentration.
Turning to the fortunes of his former club Liverpool, Heskey expresses surprise at their recent struggles. He reflects on the mentality during his Anfield days under Gérard Houllier, where consecutive defeats were treated as an unacceptable crisis. He questions where the current squad’s on-pitch leaders are, the players who “dig you out of a hole” through sheer force of will, goals, or defensive grit.
“When everyone is in a rut at the same time, who steps up?” he asks, noting the off-form periods of key figures. “Someone has to.”
For Heskey, the mission is clear. Beyond results and tactics, the fundamental joy of football must be safeguarded. “Football is for everyone. We all love it,” he concludes. “We’ve just got to make it a place where everyone feels safe.”