Mary Fowler, a star player for the Matildas, has opened up about the challenges she faced during her time at French club Montpellier. In her newly published book, “Bloom,” Fowler shares a disturbing experience where she and another black teammate received bananas instead of flowers during their farewell presentation, an incident she asserts was far from just a simple mistake.
Fowler joined Montpellier at just 17 years old in 2020 and left two years later, during which she found herself grappling with the emotional toll of her experiences, even considering quitting soccer altogether. In a chapter titled “Not so great days,” she details the distressing moment at her final home game, where the club acknowledged departing players with flowers, yet overlooked her and her teammate Ashleigh Weerden.
These revelations come at a time when awareness around racism in soccer is growing, highlighted by other athletes, including England’s Jess Carter and Jess Naz, who have spoken out about the racial abuse they’ve experienced on social media. Fowler’s account adds a crucial voice to the ongoing dialogue about racism in sports, particularly in women’s soccer.
Through her courageous storytelling, Fowler sheds light on the darker aspects of her journey, hoping to inspire change and encourage discussions around inclusion and equality in the sport she loves. Her experiences serve as a reminder that while the game can be beautiful, it also requires a commitment to confronting and addressing the inequalities that persist within it.