By Samindra Kunti
October 28 – The English Football Association has launched a code to drive ethnic and gender diversity at the top levels of the game. More than 40 clubs have signed up, the FA said.
The Football Leadership Diversity Code wants to move away from recruitment practices focused on personal networks and substantially improve opportunities for people with a BAME background, as well as balance the gender gap. The code works on a voluntary basis, but those who sign up will have to commit to hitting hiring targets for diversity in senior roles, executive and middle-management roles.
Clubs will have to make 15% of new executive positions available to people with a BAME background. The code also includes targets for gender diversity and coaching roles. Clubs however will be given leeway in setting targets depending on local demographics. There are no quotas.
In the past, English football has adopted the ‘Rooney Rule’, a hiring policy from the NFL which requires clubs to interview at least one BAME candidate for a vacant manager’s jobs, but the rule has been met with criticism with clubs circumventing the guideline all too easily. It only applies when there is a shortlist.
The English governing body said that more than 40 clubs, including clubs from the WSL, have signed up, committing to tackle inequality across senior leadership positions.
Liverpool, whose captain Jordan Henderson was part of the Inclusion Advisory board that was led by Paul Elliott and came up with the code, were quick to announce their support. Lynne Stockton Howard, senior vice president, HR, at Liverpool, said: “We are proud to be a founding signatory of the FA’s Football Diversity Leadership Code, as it reflects our ambitions and commitment as a club to make both LFC and the wider football community as inclusive as possible.
“This month we launched our equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, Red Together, which provides a recognisable platform to bring our important work, messaging, achievements and ambitions in this area to the forefront. Alongside this, we maintained our Premier League Advanced Level Equality Standard in recognition of the club’s ongoing commitment to driving change.”
Manchester United also embraced the new code. Richard Arnold, the club’s Group Managing Director, said: “I want to restate our promise as a club to champion diversity and to promote equality for all. Manchester United has been and will always be a club open for all. We are very proud of all the efforts that we have made across the club over many years to campaign for equality in football and society and to diversify our workforce. Our most recent initiative, All Red All Equal commenced in 2016 and through that, we have challenged hate crime and discrimination, raised awareness of mental health issues and promoted the empowerment of women amongst many other initiatives.
“However, there is always more for us to learn and to do in this area. We welcome the work of the FA to support the good work that has already been done and to challenge us to raise the bar even higher.
Southampton however was the only Premier League that opted not to join.
“Southampton are wholly supportive of the Football Leadership Diversity Code objectives,” said a Saints spokesperson. “At this time the club consider its most appropriate course of action to wait and understand how a revised Premier League Equality Standard and the Football Leadership Diversity Code will work together and complement each other before revising our recruitment targets and already established processes.”
Football Diversity Code Targets
*Senior leadership and team operations – 15% of new hires will have a BAME background
*Senior leadership and team operations – 30% of new hires will be female
*Coaching: men’s professional clubs – 25% of new hires will have a BAME background
*Coaching: men’s professional clubs – 10% of new senior coaching hires have a BAME background
*Coaching: women’s professional clubs – 50% of new hires will be female
*Coaching: women’s professional clubs – 15% of new hires will have a BAME background
* Recruitment – Shortlists for interview will have at least one BAME candidate, if applicants meeting the job specifications apply
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1734939176labto1734939176ofdlr1734939176owedi1734939176sni@o1734939176fni1734939176