The FA, the Premier League and the EFL have collectively written to the Minister for Sport following discussions about anti-discrimination initiatives in English football between the three organisations and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
We understand that although there has been much progress to encourage inclusion and promote equality in football over the past 30 years, much remains to be done.
We are determined to address discrimination in the sport, make clear that football is open and inclusive and that we will not accept discrimination inside our grounds or on our pitches.
We have welcomed the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Minister, and have committed to work with other football stakeholders, including the Professional Footballers’ Association and the League Managers Association, to further enhance our work in a range of areas to support opportunities for BAME people in English football. We will also work to ensure there are robust processes and sanctions in place for anyone who behaves unacceptably.
The areas we have committed to further enhancing include:
- A review of how professional clubs sanction and educate offenders to provide more clarity and consistency
- A review of FA sanctions for discrimination in the professional and grassroots game
- Improved steward training, including new modules on recognising and responding to discriminatory behaviour
- Improved reporting methods to enable fans to quickly and simply make clubs and the authorities aware of concerns or incidents of discrimination
- Enhance and grow programmes to provide more opportunities for BAME people in coaching, refereeing, management and administrative positions in the sport
- Further developing schools and community programmes, particularly in promoting inclusion through projects delivered by Premier League and EFL clubs.
Additionally, the three football bodies have requested support from the DCMS and the Minister in leading a review of football banning orders with the CPS, Home Office and police and football authorities; and leading a working group to establish where social media companies can support our desire to prevent discriminatory behaviour online.
We have also requested that DCMS engages other Government departments to explore whether English football’s apprenticeship levy funding can be used for steward training and vocational courses to widen representation in skilled areas of the football industry.
The joint letter sent by The FA, the Premier League and the EFL can be accessed below.
