Jude Bellingham, England's media, major issues and things that need to be said - The Mirror

The situation between England boss Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham and reporting from certain spheres has seen "the media" get a kicking of late - but it is wrong to lump everyone together

Another week, another former player sounding off about his treatment by the media. This time, it is Ashley Cole, a brilliant former England international who was world class for much of his playing career and, in my opinion, the best in the world for some of it.

Cole was never far from controversy. The tapping-up scandal, married to a pop superstar and branded “Cashley” when he moved from Arsenal to Chelsea.

He even wrote an autobiography “Winning, Losing, Scandals and the Drama of Germany 2006.” That book probably signalled the end of that era of football autobiographies. It was not well received on any level.

But he was an excellent guest on Gary Neville’s The Overlap show. Cole came across really well. Honest enough to own his own mistakes but was adamant there was a media “agenda against him.”

He continued: “One million percent. One million percent. And I think it came from… well, partly me, but also the way the media wanted to frame me.”

He had a sketchy recollection - particularly whether Jose Mourinho was present (he was and got fined) - of the tapping-up scandal and blamed a waiter and the media. It was the biggest scandal of its type in the Premier League era.

Neville suggested Cole did not get the credit he deserved which is just not the recollection many of us had, particularly covering tournaments in 2004 and 2006. He put Cristiano Ronaldo in his back pocket. He was arguably England’s best player.

And Neville then asked whether he thought race came into that unfair portrayal. Cole replied: “Because of my colour? No. I don’t think so.” He admitted he did not feel well supported in the dressing room.

Even though this edition of the show was very different to last week, it did again challenge media perceptions which was put into stark contrast by Ian Wright’s passionate and compelling rant about the coverage of Jude Bellingham.

There was an inescapable truth there. You can list issues and find some context and balance in some of them. But they are not an excuse.

Does Marcus Rashford get the same treatment if he goes on a night out as cheeky chappie Jack Grealish when he gets plastered? No.

And, more pertinently, let’s not forget it was Thomas Tuchel who actually made an issue of Bellingham when he used the word “repulsive” in a radio interview last June.

That left me appalled. I still cannot get my head round the England manager using such a word - even if that was his mother’s view - in relation to a wonderful, brilliant and glorious player. He has gone to Real Madrid and been remarkable. In my view, that deserves huge credit.

You will then find journalists like me - and many others - writing in defence of Bellingham. Just as we did when he was left out of the next squads. How can you possibly even debate him not going to the World Cup? It’s a nonsense.

Someone said to me this week that more journalists should have come out in support of what Ian Wright said on The Overlap podcast. Well, actually I think you will find many of us had consistently been writing that Bellingham has been treated badly and deserves more respect. Does that not count?

It has been a bruising week for the media in many ways. I think it is better now than in Cole’s time. But is it? Ether way, you have to try and think about taking it forward.

I didn’t like the way Kick It Out kept grouping us all together as “the media” when it came to the treatment of Bellingham. But I also want to have conversations as to how we can move forward and have meaningful conversations.

One national newspaper was so concerned about how people would perceive the treatment of Bellingham when he was substituted in Albania - and he was not happy - they took a very deliberate decision not to put it on the back page. So don’t tell me that newspapers, journalists and editors are not thinking and talking.

Equally, we would be stupid and naive not to sit up and listen when someone like Ian Wright, a wonderful former player and highly respected champion of the game, speaks out. There are many more who feel the same way.

Also, we’ve got one hell of an issue if young black players think there is a problem with the media in the way they are perceived and shown.

I am quite certain that sports editors wish the industry was more diverse. But let’s not kid ourselves here. The media, like many other industries, are shedding jobs not gaining them.

But it is so wrong and misguided not to listen and try to address issues. To try and hide behind excuses is not going to cut it.

But I also think it’s unfair to group everyone together as part of “the media” which is a beast which does not care or listen.

We need to do more of that to change and move forward.

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