07th November 2005

Racial blocks 'still in football'

Racial barriers still exist in football and little progress has been made to change that, a conference has heard.

Jas Bains, who wrote the ironically titled report Asians Can't Play Football nine years ago told the meeting in Leicester more must be done.

Football Association development director Sir Trevor Brooking and Minister for Sport Richard Caborn are there to hear the community's concerns.

The FA defended its record in attracting more Asians to the sport.

Only four Asians currently play professionally in England and, of those, only two - Newcastle United's Michael Chopra and Fulham's Zesh Rehman - play in the Premiership.

'Negligible representation'

"Mr Bains told delegates at Leicester City Football Club's Walkers Stadium: "We, the Asian football community, are not satisfied with the progress made."

"The Football Association promised to implement many recommendations in the report.

"The stark reality is that, 10 years on, we have four players of Asian origin playing professional football and an almost negligible representation in academies and centres of excellence."

"The stakes are high and we want to work with the game in seeking to remove barriers to the involvement of all minorities in the game at every level."

Former professional Paul Elliott and pioneering black footballer Brendon Batson are also at the event. Local Asian football clubs and projects are also attending.

Burns report

The FA was recommended to address equality issues in a separate report after structural review of its organisation by Lord Burns.

Sports minister Richard Caborn told the conference he wanted those recommendations implemented as soon as possible at the FA.

"That will be the quantum leap, when football's institutions are reflective of the wider community," he said.

The FA must be prepared for the surge in interest the 2006 World Cup is likely to generate, he added.

"Football's institutions have to be in a position to capitalise on that right across the community."

FA director of corporate affairs Simon Johnson said football must be as reflective of society as possible and it had a role to rid the game of discrimination.

"If there are any barriers, we are determined to work with the community to break them down," he said.

The FA has been leading the field in promoting equality of opportunities for all, he argued.

He said the FA was making good progress and by this time next year it would be implementing the Burns measures.

Source: BBC News