Arsenal legend Ian Wright has launched a passionate defence of Jude Bellingham, asserting that England is "not ready for a black superstar" following criticism of the midfielder's reaction to being substituted during the recent victory over Albania.
The former England striker made these powerful claims on The Overlap podcast, maintaining that the severe backlash faced by the 22-year-old Real Madrid player stems from him being an "outspoken black man".
Wright argued that Bellingham's self-assured demeanour and exceptional performances "frighten" certain individuals who cannot accept a confident black footballer at the pinnacle of the sport.
"I don't think they're ready for a black superstar who can move like Jude is moving. They can't touch him," Wright declared during the emotional address.
Ian Wright has lashed out at the national media for picking out Jude Bellingham
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The controversy erupted when Bellingham displayed visible frustration after being replaced by Morgan Rogers in the 83rd minute of England's 2-0 triumph over Albania on Sunday.
The Real Madrid midfielder was seen gesturing and voicing his displeasure towards Thomas Tuchel and the coaching staff as he left the pitch, despite receiving the Player of the Match award for his performance.
This incident followed reports suggesting Bellingham's personality had been creating tensions within the England camp after his exclusion from October's international fixtures.
The 22-year-old had returned to the squad for November's World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania, having missed the previous international window.
One national newspaper subsequently ran a back page headline reading "Leave Jude At Home", intensifying the media scrutiny surrounding the young star.
Wright drew stark comparisons between the treatment of different black footballers to illustrate his point about racial bias in media coverage.
Jude Bellingham was not happy after coming off against Albania
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"They all love N'Golo Kante. He's a humble black man, gets on with what he's doing," Wright explained on the podcast, before contrasting this with the reception given to more expressive players.
"But if you get a [Paul] Pogba, or a Bellingham, and you get that kind of energy, that does not sit well with people."
The Arsenal legend suggested that Bellingham's confident celebrations, including his "Who else?" exclamation after scoring against Slovakia at Euro 2024, represent behaviour that is "too uppity for these people".
Wright emphasised that such self-assurance combined with exceptional ability creates discomfort among those who prefer black athletes to remain quietly deferential.
Tuchel addressed the substitution incident in his post-match press conference, emphasising that whilst competitive players dislike being withdrawn, "he has to accept it".
The German manager stressed that "behaviour is key" and indicated he would "review" the situation privately with Bellingham, underlining the importance of maintaining team standards and mutual respect.
This followed earlier controversy when Tuchel apologised for using the term "repulsive" to describe aspects of Bellingham's on-field conduct during a June interview, though he had been discussing the need to channel the player's aggressive energy appropriately.
In March, Tuchel had praised Bellingham as a team leader and "pleasure to work with" whilst suggesting the former Birmingham City player required greater "discipline" in certain areas of his game.
Wright revealed he had sent Bellingham a warning message before the England camp, telling him to "Be ready" for what was coming.
When Bellingham responded asking "Ready for what?", Wright explained that media criticism would inevitably follow, describing it as being "like a tsunami".
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville supported Wright's assessment, recalling how Raheem Sterling had confided in him during Euro 2016 about feeling unfairly targeted due to his race.
Jude Bellingham and Thomas Tuchel appeared to clash on the touchline
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"He felt as though he was being persecuted, that it was unfair, and it was basically not related to football," Neville stated on the podcast.
Wright's concerns echo the racial abuse suffered by Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho following England's Euro 2021 final defeat, highlighting persistent issues within football coverage.