FA to Implement Mandatory Diversity Reporting for Football Clubs Ahead of New Season

Football Association to Enforce Workforce Diversity Reporting

The Football Association (FA) is set to implement a crucial new rule ahead of the upcoming season, making it mandatory for professional football clubs to report on workforce diversity. This initiative is part of the FA's ongoing commitment to enhance diversity and inclusion within the sport, a pledge first made nearly four years ago through the Football Leadership Diversity Code.

The Importance of the Football Leadership Diversity Code

Launched nearly four years ago, the Football Leadership Diversity Code aimed to promote equality within football by increasing opportunities for underrepresented groups. However, results have fallen short, with the 53 professional clubs that signed onto the code not meeting any of the eight hiring targets set for the previous season. This underperformance seems to have propelled the FA towards making diversity reporting a mandatory practice for all clubs.

New Reporting Requirements for Clubs

The FA Board has agreed in principle to a new rule requiring clubs in the English leagues to provide detailed data about their workforce demographics. This includes age, sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. Such transparency will enable the FA to better understand the current landscape of diversity within the football workforce.

Participation in the Race Representation Index

For the first time this year, the FA participated in the Race Representation Index (RRI), assessing the progress of various sports National Governing Bodies (NGBs) in promoting diversity. The FA ranked 18th out of 92, indicating both progress and the need for improvement in this critical area.

Comments from Sporting Equals

Arun Kang OBE, the chief executive of Sporting Equals, emphasized the significance of data collection. He stated, "It's fantastic to see the FA come on board with the Race Representation Index... it's not just about collecting it, it's what you do with that data." This highlights the necessity for clubs to use data proactively to address diversity gaps.

Future Focus: Managerial Diversity

In addition to workforce diversity, the FA faces scrutiny over the representation of racially diverse candidates for managerial positions. Currently, there is only one Black-British manager in the top four tiers of English football—Darren Moore at Port Vale in League Two. This stark contrast between player demographics (43% of Premier League players being Black) and managerial roles (just 4.4% of managerial positions held by Black individuals) signals a pressing need for change.

The Call for Action from the Black Footballers Partnership

Delroy Corinaldi, co-founder of the Black Footballers Partnership (BFP), has remarked on the challenges faced by Black players transitioning into managerial roles. He highlighted the necessity for the FA to deepen the pool of Black former players in management positions. "The FA has to work a lot harder to help deepen that pool... this requires a sincere commitment to do so," he said.

Looking Ahead

The FA's commitment to diversity and inclusion is a promising step forward for the sport. With mandatory reporting on workforce demographics and a focus on managerial diversity, there is hope for a more equitable landscape in English football. The upcoming season will be a critical period for both clubs and the FA to demonstrate tangible progress in achieving these important goals.

Final Thoughts

As the discourse around diversity in football continues, it is crucial for all stakeholders to participate in this initiative actively. Only through collaboration and actionable strategies can genuine progress be made in ensuring representation reflects the diverse community within the sport.

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Stay tuned for more updates on diversity in football and other related topics. Your input is valuable—what steps do you think could further improve diversity in the sport?