---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the FA wished I was white. I had…"
description: "\"I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a c..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg"
---

#  I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility…

![“I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early on my career.” quote by Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg)

> “I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early on my career.”

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker reflects on perceived racial bias in football, feeling that being white would have granted more opportunities despite proven skill and leadership.

**In simple terms:** He believes race affected his career chances.

Key Takeaway

Recognize and challenge racial bias.

Themes

sports racism career leadership

Mood

reflective determined

Type

critical inspirational

When to use this quote

- team selection
- career advancement
- media interviews
- coaching decisions

Key Concepts

systemic discrimination identity professional merit

Questions to Reflect On

- How can sports organizations ensure fair evaluation?
- What role does personal perception play in interpreting bias?

A Different Perspective

Bias may be complex and not solely race-based.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Captain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Club Captain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/club-captain-2003181/) [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Fa Wished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fa-wished-5077856/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Think Fa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-fa-1382083/) [White Credibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/white-credibility-5077858/) [Wished White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wished-white-5077857/)

## Related quotes

> [I think the FA Cup has great memories and I think there have been Nigerian legends that have played in it as well, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelechi-iheanacho/i-think-the-fa-cup-has-great-memories-and-i-think-there-have-been/)

[Kelechi Iheanacho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelechi-iheanacho/)

> [I think if the FA is truly serious about tackling the culture of gambling in football, it needs to look at its own dependence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-barton/i-think-if-the-fa-is-truly-serious-about-tackling-the-culture-of/)

[Joey Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-barton/)

> [I can't sleep at night when I think about the FA Cup!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-van-der-sar/i-can-t-sleep-at-night-when-i-think-about-the-fa-cup/)

[Edwin van der Sar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-van-der-sar/)

> [Our club captain Gary Neville's been out for a year now, but Giggsy has taken up the mantelpiece.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rio-ferdinand/our-club-captain-gary-neville-s-been-out-for-a-year-now-but-giggsy/)

[Rio Ferdinand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rio-ferdinand/)

> [Have you ever heard of a club captain who's a bad egg? Me neither.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mccormack/have-you-ever-heard-of-a-club-captain-who-s-a-bad-egg-me-neither/)

[Ross McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mccormack/)

> [But I was club captain at Leeds, club captain at Fulham. If you've got a bad attitude you're not getting those honours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mccormack/but-i-was-club-captain-at-leeds-club-captain-at-fulham-if-you-ve-got/)

[Ross McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mccormack/)

> [But what I say to people who don't know me and listen to people who say I'm a bad egg or whatever is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-mccormack/but-what-i-say-to-people-who-don-t-know-me-and-listen-to-people-who/)

[Ross McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-mccormack/)

> [Steph's been an unbelievable captain, not just for country but for club as well. She's still my captain at club. She's someone I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/steph-s-been-an-unbelievable-captain-not-just-for-country-but-for/)

[Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/)

> [As club captain all I want to do is help us get back up the table and into the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-gerrard/as-club-captain-all-i-want-to-do-is-help-us-get-back-up-the-table-and/)

[Steven Gerrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-gerrard/)

> [“It’s so easy to lose faith and become lost in all of the politics of the world. That’s why we need the arts. To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/it-s-so-easy-to-lose-faith-and-become-lost-in-all-of-the-politics-of/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [In each studio there is a human being dressed in the full regalia of his myth fearing to expore a vulnerable opening, spreading not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/in-each-studio-there-is-a-human-being-dressed-in-the-full-regalia-of/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [Commerce diminishes the spirit, both of patriotism and military defence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/commerce-diminishes-the-spirit-both-of-patriotism-and-military-defence/)

[Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/)

> [“No thanky-you; you can't overcome hatred with more hatred. Force can kill the liar but not the lie, the hater but not the hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-sheldon/no-thanky-you-you-can-t-overcome-hatred-with-more-hatred-force-can/)

[Joss Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-sheldon/)

> [Everyone says there's a lot of strength, a lot of big guys in defence, the Premier League is very fast and there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timo-werner/everyone-says-there-s-a-lot-of-strength-a-lot-of-big-guys-in-defence/)

[Timo Werner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timo-werner/)

> [When I talk about my childhood I used to say it as if it was scripted and I'd make jokes because it was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-katona/when-i-talk-about-my-childhood-i-used-to-say-it-as-if-it-was-scripted/)

[Kerry Katona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-katona/)

## More by Sol Campbell

> [The main thing is to have strings to your bow. You get your badges, you see where life is, and then you see what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/the-main-thing-is-to-have-strings-to-your-bow-you-get-your-badges-you/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Sometimes I am the 'philosophical professor, or I can do the voice like thunder if necessary... or if I want to keep the lads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/sometimes-i-am-the-philosophical-professor-or-i-can-do-the-voice-like/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Look, I'm an entrepreneur, I want to create things, I'm a builder. I don't want handouts. If I didn't play football I'd be doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/look-i-m-an-entrepreneur-i-want-to-create-things-i-m-a-builder-i-don/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I've got a furniture range with my wife, and I want to get into designing hotels and restaurants as well. We've got a big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-ve-got-a-furniture-range-with-my-wife-and-i-want-to-get-into/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I have the tools to climb the mountain so I don't mind climbing mountains. I have climbed mountains since I was growing up in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-have-the-tools-to-climb-the-mountain-so-i-don-t-mind-climbing/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Most of my players have come through academies with clubs. That's not a bad thing, but it's very different to what I grew up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/most-of-my-players-have-come-through-academies-with-clubs-that-s-not/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I'm a street footballer and you still get street footballers from Africa, South Africa and really poor parts of Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-m-a-street-footballer-and-you-still-get-street-footballers-from/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I've got my own mind, and I'll talk about it, but I'm willing to listen. I'm very balanced like that. If you don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-ve-got-my-own-mind-and-i-ll-talk-about-it-but-i-m-willing-to-listen/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I'm used to having strong women around me. My mother was. My wife is. I like their strong mentality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-m-used-to-having-strong-women-around-me-my-mother-was-my-wife-is-i/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [My values are in my DNA and were shaped by my environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/my-values-are-in-my-dna-and-were-shaped-by-my-environment/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I've not had a massive PR machine. I'm just a normal guy. I work hard. I like players who hate losing. That's who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-ve-not-had-a-massive-pr-machine-i-m-just-a-normal-guy-i-work-hard-i/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Some players can just act like 'whatever' off the field and then play amazing. Not many, but some. I just wasn't wired like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/some-players-can-just-act-like-whatever-off-the-field-and-then-play/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Don't change being you, because it's hard work being something that you're not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/don-t-change-being-you-because-it-s-hard-work-being-something-that/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [I think that what London wants are people with ideas and the willpower to get things through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-think-that-what-london-wants-are-people-with-ideas-and-the/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

> [Sometimes you get a team that has almost forgotten how to win. That's maybe fallen away from the standards that should be set at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/sometimes-you-get-a-team-that-has-almost-forgotten-how-to-win-that-s/)

[Sol Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

[Explore all 94 Sol Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/)

## More Captain quotes

> [“Joe!” he groaned, attempting to speak clearly. “Joe! Good ol’ Joe!” “Captain, you’re drunk!” Lofflin said, stating the obvious while trying to keep his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-engela/joe-he-groaned-attempting-to-speak-clearly-joe-good-ol-joe-captain/)

[Christina Engela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-engela/)

> [I think anyone who wants to go up against Captain Marvel ought to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-fleck/i-think-anyone-who-wants-to-go-up-against-captain-marvel-ought-to-be/)

[Ryan Fleck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-fleck/)

> [Jon Moxley - great performer. I'm sure he's a nice guy. But at the end of the day, I think people are sick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-jacob-friedman/jon-moxley-great-performer-i-m-sure-he-s-a-nice-guy-but-at-the-end-of/)

[Maxwell Jacob Friedman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-jacob-friedman/)

> [I've definitely grown into the job after that difficult first Test against Pakistan. I'd been captain for the Sri Lanka one-dayers, which hadn't gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-ve-definitely-grown-into-the-job-after-that-difficult-first-test/)

[Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/)

> [“ The captain? Sophia stood staring numbly after him. Had he just said he’d introduce her to the captain? Of someone else was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dare/the-captain-sophia-stood-staring-numbly-after-him-had-he-just-said-he/)

[Tessa Dare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dare/)

> [My father was in the military; he was a captain. His service was to quote-unquote integrate the Armed Forces overseas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-morton/my-father-was-in-the-military-he-was-a-captain-his-service-was-to/)

[Joe Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-morton/)

> [I think there will be one overarching coach for Tests and one-day cricket. I think you need one person in control and in charge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-strauss/i-think-there-will-be-one-overarching-coach-for-tests-and-one-day/)

[Andrew Strauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-strauss/)

> [Obviously as players we want to play every game. But when you do miss out, I strongly believe the job is to not sulk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moeen-ali/obviously-as-players-we-want-to-play-every-game-but-when-you-do-miss/)

[Moeen Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moeen-ali/)

> [Jay Jay Okocha. On and off the field he was the captain you looked for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-allardyce/jay-jay-okocha-on-and-off-the-field-he-was-the-captain-you-looked-for/)

[Sam Allardyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-allardyce/)

> [It’s up to the captain. I certainly feel my golf is worthy of playing in the Ryder Cup. But I’m not sure I’m on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernhard-langer/it-s-up-to-the-captain-i-certainly-feel-my-golf-is-worthy-of-playing/)

[Bernhard Langer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernhard-langer/)

> [“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul and all that jazz.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/i-am-the-master-of-my-fate-i-am-the-captain-of-my-soul-and-all-that/)

[Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/)

> [I will be captain for my teammates and be captain of Manchester United is an important achievement for me but I think everyone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/i-will-be-captain-for-my-teammates-and-be-captain-of-manchester/)

[Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/)

> [You are here because you some Justin Beaver, Miley Cirus lookin' muthas. -Captain Dickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/21-jump-street/you-are-here-because-you-some-justin-beaver-miley-cirus-lookin-muthas/)

[21 Jump Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/21-jump-street/)

> [Captain America is an interesting character because it makes you ask those questions in yourself as a writer. What do we want as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-waid/captain-america-is-an-interesting-character-because-it-makes-you-ask/)

[Mark Waid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-waid/)

> [Captain looks at Janie closely. "Jesus, Mary, and Joseph," she says. "You're gonna have a heck of a shiner by the time the day's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mcmann/captain-looks-at-janie-closely-jesus-mary-and-joseph-she-says-you-re/)

[Lisa McMann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mcmann/)

[Browse all 873 Captain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/captain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was consistently in the heart of the defence and I was a club captain early on my career.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Sol Campbell"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had-the-credibility-performance/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Captain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had-the-credibility-performance/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6a5/sol-campbell-7189_captain_i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had_2240694.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I think the FA wished I was white. I had the credibility, performance-wise, to be captain. I was…” — Sol Campbell",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Sol Campbell",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sol-campbell/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I think the FA wished I...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had-the-credibility-performance/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sol-campbell/i-think-the-fa-wished-i-was-white-i-had-the-credibility-performance/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
