The basis of the study is so-called "racist stacking". The term describes a phenomenon in team sports in which white players more frequently occupy central and tactical positions, while black players are disproportionately deployed in physically emphasised positions.

The publication is dedicated to the phenomenon in three sub-studies:

• The first empirical study - an evaluation of player data - shows that in the first and second national women's football leagues, Black players are more frequently represented in physically emphasised playing positions and less frequently in tactical playing positions.
• The second experimental study shows that test subjects rate white and black male footballers as equally suitable for selected playing positions when they are given information on the players' performance parameters.
• In contrast, the third experimental study, in which the test subjects were not given any performance parameters, shows that black male footballers were rated as more suitable for the flanks and less suitable for the goalkeeper position.

Racist images still have an impact today

The results show that racist ideas - such as the myth that black people are naturally physically superior, while white people are considered more intelligent - are still anchored in the structures of sport. "These stereotypes not only influence the distribution of positions, but also the career opportunities of athletes," explains sports sociologist Lara Kronenbitter.

Call for structural changes

Together with two colleagues from the University of Osnabrück, the Wuppertal researchers recommend specific measures to combat racist patterns in sport. These include

• Training for coaches, officials and employees to raise awareness of racism in sport
• More diversity in management positions through targeted recruitment of black people and people of colour (BPoC)
• Transparent selection criteria when filling playing and management positions
• A "diversity mentorship programme" to promote BPoC coaches

The project is part of the Discrimination and Racism Research Network (FoDiRa) of the Research Association of the German Centre for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM). It was funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ).