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England’s heartbreakingly historic defeat

Above all, it was a piece of devastatingly disappointing news after over a year of Covid social distancing, deaths and suffering. The 60,000 fans who attended both the final and semi-final against Denmark at London’s Wembley Stadium were pandemic numbers – a super-spreader event! And over 33 million people – well over half the population of the UK – watched this memorable match on TV – a record audience.
And of course the competition itself – formally called the UEFA Football Championship – was originally scheduled for last summer but was postponed because of coronavirus.
No surprise then, that the day after the thrilling 2-1 win against Denmark, the highest rate of Covid infections was reported since February, as the British government decided to use the summer weather and the success of the vaccine rollout (which has seen 63% of UK adults get two jabs) tFo ease social distancing and travel restrictions and return the battered economy to something approaching normal.
Beyond the actual defeat, there were several non-pandemic elements to the unprecedented mass interest in the Euros even for people who would not normally consider themselves to be football fans!
Every one of England’s games began with the players “taking the knee” in order to express solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in both the US and the UK, which saw the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, a slave-trader and philanthropist, in Bristol last summer.
And the star quality of black and other ethnic minority players – mainly the amazingly agile Raheem Sterling, who is of Jamaican origin, was a vivid reminder of the practical significance of racial equality and anti-discrimination activism.
Another high-profile black player is Manchester United striker, Marcus Rashford, who has urged Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson to do more to tackle child poverty. Harry Kane, the captain, wore a rainbow armband to celebrate Pride month during England’s victory over Germany.
England’s manager, Gareth Southgate, has won heaps of praise for encouraging his team to act as what he termed “role models.” Being defeated by Italy was the culmination of a task that in many ways was set out for him from the moment he stepped off the Wembley pitch after missing a penalty against Germany in 1996. The fact that the game ended in a penalty shoot-out had a sadly ironic quality. Despite the shattering loss, Southgate’s commitment won high praise.
“It’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate,” he wrote. “It’s clear to me we are heading for a much more tolerant and understanding society, and I know our lads will be a big part of that.”
Football, of course, is not automatically associated with progressive views, rather with patriotism and nationalism and even jingoism. The England team has always worn three lions on their shirts - the logo of the Football Association - which dates back to the 12th century, when a standard with three gold lions on a red field was carried into battle to inspire troops and is taken as symbolizing the bravery of Richard the Lionheart.
Criticism of Johnson’s conservative government, especially of Home Secretary Priti Patel (who is of Indian origin), has focused on her hostility to immigrants and refusal to condemn fans who booed England for “taking the knee” before games to protest against racial injustice. Instead, she derided the players for engaging in “gesture politics”. In total, as one sports columnist pointed out, 13 of England’s 26-man squad could have chosen to represent another nation.
Since June 2016, Brexit has been a factor too. That landmark referendum decision to leave the EU after 47 years of UK membership has been a uniquely divisive issue in British politics since then. The pro-Brexit Daily Telegraph newspaper reported last week that France and Germany had sought back then to expel England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales from the UEFA Football Championship back then – but obviously that didn’t succeed!
Italian fans were urging their own national team, with its own staggering record of 33 unbeaten games, to secure yet another victory in order to avoid Euro 2020 being won by a country that had chosen to leave the European project.
In a rapidly changing and uncertain world, England's long and painful wait for a second major soccer tournament final is now over. It is a heartbreaking shame, of course, that Southgate’s team failed in a much-sought-after opportunity to change their country’s football history. But 11 July 2021 will still be a date to remember.
by: IAN BLACK

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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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