THE Premier League have been blasted and accused of a “shameful” lack of action to increase their diversity.
Other than support players taking a knee and wearing Black Lives Matter logos, there is a feeling the top flight has done little to end systemic discrimination within the game.
Black Lives Matter logos have been a frequent fixture at all matches in recent weeksCredit: EPA
And that is leading to increasing anger from stars past and present, who claim the biggest league in the world is doing nothing but pay lip service to battling racism.
One former player at the highest level, now working as a coach, told SunSport: “What the Premier League have done — or haven’t done, if we’re honest — is shameful.
“It’s OK for them to say the players can take a knee and that a badge will be on a shirt.
“But that’s nothing — and doesn’t change anything about the actual issue.
“We know there’s hardly any black representation, the whole point is to be open and transparent — show you are actually bothered about making a change. Thirty per cent of the players in the league are black.
“They are the ones producing, so the people at the top are rolling in it — but they don’t want to change so black people can get into senior roles within the organisation.
“The only thing we’ve seen since all this blew up is them announcing work-experience placements for six coaches.
“And even then, all those will be placed at clubs in the EFL. It’s just embarrassing.”
Players across English football have taken a knee ahead of each game since the restartCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Darren Moore will head the new Black Participants Advisory GroupCredit: Dave Pinegar – The Sun
The Prem launched a scheme last week, along with the PFA and EFL, to hand 23-month work placements to six BAME coaches — although none of those positions will be with teams in the top flight.
The League also set up the Black Participants Advisory Group, headed by Doncaster boss Darren Moore, which they meet with regularly to help shape policies.
Yet none of those who sit on the group are employed by the top flight — and there is a belief that all those in senior decision-making roles at the Premier League are white.
The current Premier League Board is all white — three men and a woman — while there is no black representation in any of the other senior roles.
The League do publish their diversity figures which show that, of 182 employees, 12.22 per cent are classed as BAME.
But they do not drill down to reveal how many of that group are black, or even detail what the numbers are in different levels within the organisation.
The source added: “It’s easy to hide behind BAME — but do you know how that feels to be grouped into a collective?
“It’s white and then everyone else can all go in a group together so the stats look better.
Once again it looks as though the Premier League are doing the minimum.
Sun Source
“How many of that 12 per cent are black? And in what roles? None in a senior position, I’m telling you.
“The Premier League, the biggest in the world, should be leading the way — but once again it looks as though they are doing the minimum.”
The League points to the development of their coaches programme, on top of the Elite Coach Apprenticeship Scheme, which has been running since 2015, as signs that they are working to increase diversity.
They also launched a reporting system for players, bosses and their families who receive racist abuse online and regularly meet with the Black Participants Advisory Group.
Aston Villa and Sheffield United players take a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of first game of Premier League return
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
