Simone Pound
Equalities Development Executive
Players United Against Racism
KICK IT OUT: the origins
By Simone Pound
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History
Since the launch of the Kick Racism Out Of Football campaign in 1994 the members of the PFA have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to anti-racism. It is now considered the most successful campaign in football and continues to lead the way for countries around Europe to aspire to.
The PFA and our members also support the Show Racism the Red Card, Football Unites, Racism divides, and the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network.
Players have attended events across the country to educate and inspire children and young people that there is no place for racism in our game or in our lives. It would be easy to think that racism no longer exists but there is a growing trend in far-right politics that means prejudiced ideals are integrated with everyday thinking – we must remember that we are all equal wherever we are born, whatever religion, whatever language and whatever team we play for.
UEFA state that they use England as a role model for anti-racist initiatives in football. This demonstrates that although we have along way until things are perfect, we are an example of good practice to encourage the rest of Europe to follow suit.
CRE
In 2003 the CRE conducted a survey of the English football game to determine their commitment to racial equality. It published its findings in 2004 in its report Racial Equality in Football: A survey. The report concluded that, there was a great deal of work to focus on before football could say it had kicked racism out of the game
In the two years since it was published, the CRE guided by special Football Advisors Paul Elliot and Garth Crooks has worked with all football organisations to establish key areas for change.
The PFA has always been committed to representation across the board from the field of play, in coaching and management to administration and at Board Level.
We are proud of our representation on our Management Committee with 25% from ethnic minorities including the PFA chairman Chris Powell.
We have a designated Player Development Officer whose role is to identify talented players with management potential and encourage ethnic minority players into coaching and coach education. We are already seeing an increase in qualified black coaches and we would like to see this to continue in order to ensure a pool of qualified coaches who can qualify for the top coaching positions.
Our Award-winning Black Coaches Forum (See below) was established in 2003 and is an arena for players, coaches and management to lobby for greater opportunities in their field.
The PFA has established a diversity-training programme for players and academy scholars in association with the FAPL and Kick It Out.
What We Shall Do Next
- Track the career paths of all professional players from ethnic minorities participating in coaching courses from UEFA Level 1 up to Applied Management qualification, and Pro License.
- Work with other football authorities if there is little change in the percentage of ethnic minority senior coaches to ensure progress is made
- Work with other football agencies to ensure we see a greater representation of Asian footballers coming into the professional game
- Continue player involvement in community cohesion initiatives to convey anti-racism messages
- Further collaboration with public services including the police and fire service to help disengaged communities
- Celebrate Diversity during the PFA Centenary
Statistics from Coaching Survey
Click here to view the results from the PFA Coaching Department Player Survey 2003
To this end, the PFA have been instrumental in establishing a Steering Group to address the under-representation of black players in coaching and management.
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“Working towards a solution for under-represented black players at coaching and management level.”
The Black Coaches Steering Group was established in September 2003.
The aim of the group is to bring together players, aspiring coaches and managers along with the agencies in football concerned with the current under-representation of black coaches.
This ensures that the perspective of the people experiencing the issues is put to the people who can help to redress the balance and instigate change.
As a union that represents all its members, the PFA belive it crucial to ensure that there is no more “lost generations” of black players breaking into coaching and management.
The group meets quarterly and includes a core of players, coaches and managers such as:
- Keith Alexander
- Bobby Barnes
- Brendon Batson
- Luther Blissett
- Sir Trevor Brooking
- Frank Clarke
- Ricky Hill
- Iffy Onoura
- Cyrille Regis
- Leroy Rosenior
We have invited a number of speakers including Greg Dyke, Theo Paphitis and Dr Sue Bridgewater to discuss their equity strategies within their respective clubs, companies, organisations.
Whilst the group acknowledge that change needs to be driven from the very top down, we feel that there has been progress made in the short time it has been established and will continue to work towards a more equitable solution for black players who want to continue their career path in football.
Progress includes:
- Equity and Diversity Training for All PFA staff and coaches
- Equity and Diversity Training for All Premier League employees
- Appointment of PFA Football Development Officer (Paul Davis ex-Arsenal and England) to encourage black players to take coaching qualifications
- Pro-License Criteria being amended to ensure greater diversity of applicants
- A better understanding of the issue from all of the agencies
An increased take-up in black players taking coaching qualifications - Data-base of black players taking coaching qualifications
Equity and Diversity training currently being devised for managers - Equity and Diversity training currently being devised for scholars and full professional players.
Greater awareness by the media of these matters
Career Development of Asian Players
We hope to see a significant increase in Asian players in Academies and Centres of Excellence over the next five years and that this will have an effect within the professional game at top-flight as well.
The under-representation of Asian players is a bad reflection on equality in football and it is footballs responsibility to redress this imbalance. From talent identification to a greater communication between the Asian community and the clubs they wish to represent – we will work towards a greater understanding all round for careers in professional football for talented Asian boys.
DID YOU KNOW?
Viv Anderson was the first black on-field player to represent England. Paul Ince was the first black player to captain the England team.
Racism on the Terraces
We have worked long and hard to try to eradicate racism from the nation's terraces. The extreme far-right are working to undermine the good race relations in this country. Racism is on the rise and we need to work together in order that these mindless yobs have no place at football clubs.
Please report any racist chanting or behaviour, making a note of the date, time, club, seat area and numbers (if at all possible)
The Kick It Out National Phone line: 0800 169 414
If the incident is not at a club in the Premiership or Football League then please call the FA Hotline
FA Hotline: 0800 085 0585
* IF YOU DON'T REPORT IT THEN ACTION CANNOT BE TAKEN
Racism on the field of Play
The football pitch is a hive of emotions and sometimes there can be incidents where another player racially abuses a player. If this happens please ensure the following procedures are taken:
a. Ensure the referee is informed
b. Ensure your team manager is told.
c. Ensure your PFA delegate is told.
Once the relevant people have been told the following actions need to be taken:
1. The Club Secretary on behalf of the player must notify the FA of the incident in writing.
2. The PFA should be copied into this correspondence and can be contacted for guidance and support.
3. It is always helpful in these cases if the names of any witnesses are taken and included in correspondence.
The letters should be addressed to:
Case Manager - Racism
The FA
25 Soho Square
London
W1 4FA
And copied to:
PFA Equity Department
3rd Floor
10 Bow Lane
London
EC4M 9AL
KICK IT OUT: the origins
In 1993 the PFA and the Commission for Racial Equality formed the Kick Racism Out of Football campaign. Over the past ten years Kick It Out has worked within football to try and eradicate racism from the game.
It is now supported by all of the major partners in football: The FA, The PFA, The Premier League and The Football Foundation and also by The Football League, The League Managers Association, The Football Supporters Association, The Federation of Football Supporters Clubs, Local Government Association, Football Safety Officers Association, Metropolitan Police, Football Conference and Association of Premier League and Match Officials.
Whilst we have come a long way from the days in football when banana skins and monkey chants were a regular occurrence at games, everyone knows there is still some way to go before we have kicked racism out of football for good.
Unfortunately there are still sections of society where racism still exists and as the football stadium is a reflection of society as a whole, racist incidents are still prevalent within the game.
If you hear or experience any racial abuse in or around a football ground on a match day you can report it by calling the Kick It Out hotline: 0800 169 414
Kick It Out works with football clubs and their surrounding communities to campaign against racism. Many players have championed the Kick It Out cause and every year the National Week of Action that takes place around Black History Month in October utilises football clubs, football players and young children to challenge racism.
KICK IT OUT IN EUROPE
Kick it Out is part of the FARE network: Football against Racism in Europe which is also supported by UEFA. European football has a greater degree of racism than England which is why English teams, including our national side, has experienced problems playing in Europe.
In actual fact, Europe look to England as a role-model as to how to deal with racism in the game. UEFA recently held an international conference on racism in the game and championed the success of England and how it has dealt with racism over the past twenty years.
Despite this fact we are seeing an increase in racism in football and we are doing all we can to ensure that the problem does not escalate back to those dark days of banana skins and monkey chants.
For Further information please check out www.kickitout.org
SHOWING RACISM THE RED CARD
This campaign works by demonstrating the positive effect that footballers have on young children. We all know that racism is ignorance and the only way to fight it is through education. Show Racism the Red Card work tirelessly to demonstrate to children the success of football and strength of uniting together regardless of race, creed, gender or ethnicity. The campaign is funded by the PFA and UNISON and footballers demonstrate their commitment to the campaign by taking part in Show Racism the Red Card activity days at clubs across the country.
For more info check out www.TheRedCard.org
PLAYERS AND RACISM
From time to time players are on the receiving end of racist abuse from fans, sometimes in Europe but also at games in this country either home or away.
If this happens there is a course of action that takes place to ensure that the abuse is reported and documented. By doing this we can ensure that there is a record of the abuse and can use to assess whether clubs and The FA are doing enough to tackle the problem and address the issues.
If a player receives racist abuse that is audible from the stands by the referee or match officials, the abuse should be documented in the official match report.
The player should report the abuse to the PFA either directly or through the club PFA delegate.
The PFA will write to the appropriate governing body on the player's behalf, documenting the evidence and copying the letter into the player and the player's club secretary.
MEET THE TEAM
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Bobby Barnes Assistant Chief Executive |
Paul Davis Player Development Officer |
Pete Smith Commercial Executive |
Gemma Davies - Administrative Assistant
PFA AND RACISM
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As the players union, the PFA is instrumental in leading the fight against racism both on and off the pitch.
All PFA members of staff have received equity training and we are currently working on a programme for players that will begin with MASE scholars and roll out to all our members by season 2006-2007.
We are also working with the LMA and other football organisations to ensure that managers receive this training.
We would like the FA to include equity training modules on all coaching qualifications.
We will continue to do all we can to ensure equality and fairness for all our members.
If you are a player that has experienced racial abuse you can contact any of the above members of staff for help and advise on what to do next.
If you are a supporter that needs to report an incident of racial abuse or harassment please contact the KIO National Helpline: 0800 169 9414.
If the incident is not at a club in the Premiership or Football League then please
contact the FA Hotline: 0800 085 0585.
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