The English FA Acknowledges Lack of Diversity in Professional Clubs
The English Football Association (FA) has recognized that the staff at professional clubs does not adequately represent the diversity seen among the playing population. This statement follows the release of the FA’s third annual report on the Football Leadership Diversity Code. Introduced in 2020, the code aims to address inequality in senior leadership, team operations, and coaching roles through a collective effort.
Insufficient Representation of Diversity Among Club Staff
Last season, among the clubs endorsing the initiative, only nine percent of senior leaders, 11 percent of team operations, 16 percent of coaches, and nine percent of hired senior coaches were individuals of Black, Asian, or mixed heritage. Additionally, only 23 percent of senior leaders and 30 percent of team operations hires were female.
Within the 53 club signatories, 21 percent of senior leaders and 29 percent of team operations are female. Meanwhile, seven percent of senior leaders and nine percent of team operations belong to individuals of Black, Asian, or mixed heritage. In terms of the coaching workforce, 13 percent of trainers and 11 percent of senior coaches come from Black, Asian, or mixed heritage backgrounds.
Enhanced Insight into Diversity Landscape
This year marks the first instance where participating clubs have disclosed their actual workforce data, including information on LGBTQ+ and disability. This move offers a more comprehensive insight into the diversity landscape within professional football.
Slow Pace of Change
While the FA stated that the English football authorities, including the Premier League and EFL, met their targets this year, they emphasized that the overall pace of change remains slow. To expedite progress, the FA plans to make it mandatory for all professional clubs in the English leagues to report data on age, sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation within their organizations. This initiative has received approval in principle from the FA Board and will be introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season after a consultation period to finalize the rule drafting.
Conclusion
The FA’s report highlights the need for increased diversity within professional football clubs. While progress has been made in certain areas, there is still a significant gap between the diversity of the playing population and the club staff. The FA’s efforts to make reporting data on various aspects of diversity mandatory for all clubs aim to drive rapid change and create a more inclusive environment within the sport.