The Football Association has disclosed that English football clubs who signed a charter to increase diversity in their organizations failed to fulfill six of their eight targets for the year ending 31 July, with appointments to senior leadership posts falling.
The results of the second year of the FA’s leadership diversity code indicate that despite an increased emphasis on equality by players and organizing organizations, a step change in representation has not been accomplished. Approximately one-third of men’s clubs in the top four divisions have not yet signed the charter.
The results indicate that while the FA, Premier League, and EFL met nearly all of the voluntary code’s objectives, the majority of clubs have not. This year, only goals regarding the recruitment of black, Asian, and mixed-heritage coaches in the women’s game and the increase of diversity among top coaches in the men’s game were met.
The targets for the appointment of female coaches in the women’s game, black, Asian, and mixed-heritage coaches in all coaching jobs for the men’s game, and four targets for the recruitment of team operations and senior leadership positions were not met.
The percentages of black, Asian, and mixed-heritage applicants and women appointed to club leadership positions were 10.3% and 17.2%, respectively, considerably below the 15% and 30% targets and down from 17.8% and 19.2% in 2021.
Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, stated that there were indications of development. According to him, there was a shift in recruitment processes that will begin to alter the game, and the three regulating bodies exceeded seven out of eight goals.
Nevertheless, there is still a tremendous lot of work to be done across the game. We recognize that significant change will take time, but a handful of clubs have already made progress, and we anticipate that more teams will follow suit.”
In the women’s game, the regulatory organizations failed to appoint any coaches of black, Asian, or mixed ethnicity, which was their stated objective.
The numbers indicate that the number of clubs adhering to the code has climbed from 52 to 60, including all twenty Premier League teams. However, only 32 of the EFL’s 72 clubs are on board.
Together, the EFL’s equality, diversity, and inclusion plan were launched in the fall to accelerate progress. Trevor Birch, the EFL’s chief executive, stated that “we will continue to collaborate with clubs and partners to better our game.”
Those inside the sport who supported the implementation of the code feel that requiring clubs to disclose their appointments will keep their conduct under scrutiny. However, the news will emphasize how far football still needs to go to become representative of its players and fans.
The Black Footballers Partnership revealed last week that black people hold only 1.6% of executive, leadership, and ownership positions in the Premier League and EFL. And while 43% of Premier League players are black, only 4.4% of managers in England’s top four divisions are black.
QPR’s Les Ferdinand, a BFP member and the sole black sports director in the English game, stated that the leadership diversity code has made “absolutely no difference” in assisting black players to obtain employment in the sport.
The executive director of the BFP, Delroy Corinaldi, stated, “An organization like ours was created because we understood there were gaps in the game that needed to be addressed for it to achieve its goals.
The game must collaborate with organizations like ours, which were established to provide the FA with a new lens for bringing meaningful change because the time for gestures has passed.”
