It's just passion.
Just rivalry.
Just trash talk.
Until it's racism.
Until it's misogyny.
Until it's culture.
Two recent soccer incidents make this point.
In a Champions League match, Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior alleged that Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni directed a racist taunt at him after a goal. The referee activated UEFA's anti-racism protocol. The match paused. An investigation followed.
UEFA has since banned Prestianni from the second leg.
Whether you think that's enough isn't the point. The point is that the governing body took action.
Later that same week, a Tottenham fan mocked Arsenal's Declan Rice while he was taking a corner, waving a photo of Rice's partner and ridiculing her weight. Not a player. Not part of the match. A private individual targeted because of her body.
Broadcast audio picked up Rice telling teammate Bukayo Saka: "When I went to take a corner, they were showing it, so obviously I was angry."
That's not rivalry. That's misogyny. It's also shameful.
We'll see whether Spurs act against the fan. It's been reported that the Premier League will fine the team £1M fine if they fail to identify the fan.
Now add politics to the mix.
Recently, Donald Trump criticized the U.S. women's national hockey team while speaking to the men's team, joking that he'd have to invite the women to the White House too or risk impeachment. The message was clear: their invitation wasn't about accomplishment. It was about obligation.
Agree or disagree with his politics — that's beside the point.
When influential leaders frame women's achievements as secondary or political, it reinforces a culture where dismissiveness feels normal.
And Trump, as usual, faces no consequences for what he says.
Leadership language sets tone. It signals permission — or restraint.
Culture signals what's acceptable.
Here's where this hits home for employers.
Workplaces love to talk about culture. But culture isn't what you publish. It's what you tolerate.
If racist jokes get a pass because "that's just how he is," that's culture.
If sexist comments are brushed off as banter, that's culture.
If high performers escape discipline because they produce, that's culture.
Words aren't "just words." In the workplace, they create hostile environments, erode trust, and generate legal risk. Many discrimination cases aren't built on one explosive event, but on patterns of tolerated disrespect.
The stadium and the office aren't so different. Both are competitive. Both run on emotion. Both reflect leadership response.
When leaders minimize bias, others learn it's safe.
When leaders act, others learn it's not.
Racism and misogyny don't thrive because policies are missing.
They thrive because enforcement is.
If you want a culture of respect, don't announce it.
Prove it — especially when it's uncomfortable.