RETIRED footballer Sol Campbell says he doesn’t understand why he is constantly overlooked when honours are dished out.
The ex-England, Arsenal and Tottenham star said he was “an icon” and that it would be “nice” for his career to finally be recognised.
Sol, 48 spoke out after he became embroiled in a row over Twitter with his followers after being overlooked in the New Year’s Honours List.
Speaking to GB News today, Sol said: “For me, when it comes to honours lists, if it comes to a popularity contest there’s a lot of unpopular people who are Sirs, or have OBEs and MBEs.
“If you look at what I’ve done, and what I’ve gone through playing football and the consistency I’ve hit over the course of two decades, under severe pressure, I’m up there with some of the sporting greats of our country. I’m a proud Englishman, I have done a lot of football and work on and off the field for racism.
“I’m up there with all of them. I don’t know why I get overlooked on these kinds of occasions. I’m not the only sporting great that has been overlooked.
“It would be an honour for me to have a Sir, OBE or MBE for my sport which I’ve committed to for over two decades.”
Highlighting the work he does away from the game he continued: “But not only that, off the field stuff, you know, I ran a charity helping out disadvantaged kids from all over London, helping them kind of go to sporting events.
“So if you’re looking at what I’ve done off the field, I’ve done a hell. I’ve done a hell of a lot for this country. I’ve been an icon. When I go abroad people recognise me for what I’ve done as a footballer. It would be nice if I could have something just saying hey, I’ve been recognised in my own country.”
Sol’s comments came after he was applauded by Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and other footballing icons.
Campbel was left angry at being overlooked for an honour – despite his trailblazing career. The two-time Premier League winner was the first black player to score for England in a World Cup and has also been involved in many charitable projects in recent years.
Campbel said he’d “challenge anyone who says I don’t deserve” to be honoured.
“I’ve seen a lot of people get MBEs, OBEs [and] Sir’s for services to sport [and] I will put my name down reasons why [I should’ve been included],” wrote Campbell on Instagram.
“First, the 56 [Premier League] games without losing is an [individual] record. Two, invincible Arsenal team 49 games without losing [is] a record. Three, first black player to score in World Cup for England. Four, first black captain to lift a cup at Wembley
“Five, first black English speaking player to score in a Champions League final. Six, I played two decades and over 500 games in the Premier League.
“Seven, I stood up for racism in football here and abroad. Eight, [I’m the] only English player to play in six consecutive tournaments for England. Nine, [I] got into the World Cup best team [in both] 1998 and 2002 and one European team [in] 2004, so at one stage I was pound-for-pound the best defender in the world – how many Englishmen can say that? “I also had a charity called ‘Kids Goes Live’ which took school children from underprivileged backgrounds to watch live sporting events! I challenge anyone who says I don’t deserve it? It will be silent out there!”
Campbell’s opinion was supported by the likes of Andy Cole, Mikael Silvestre and Sylvain Distin. His former England team-mates Ferdinand and Terry also backed him up, as the latter replied: “You get my vote, Sol.”
