Soccer must be held to account for how it tackles discrimination by the new independent regulator, a key parliamentary committee has said.
In the week an independent report found evidence of “deeply embedded” discrimination in cricket, the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) committee insists football cannot be trusted to have its own house in order on equality , diversity and inclusion (EDI ).
He called for the EDI measures to be included in a new code for football governance and for the regulator to have powers to mandate and assess EDI action plans drawn up by clubs.
The Government has pledged to legislate for an independent regulator of English football (IREF), and Sports Minister Stuart Andrew told supporters in Manchester last weekend that it would be one of the first bills to move forward after of the King’s speech in autumn.
However, the government said in its white paper on football governance published in February that it did not believe EDI matters should fall within the regulator’s immediate purview, something that frustrated anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, particularly given the fan-driven review. had recommended that EDI be in the purview of the regulator.
The CMS committee says it is “skeptical” that soccer will come up with adequate collective standards on its own, given the “limited progress” it has seen.
A report from the committee, which recommended the Government establish the shadow regulator by the end of the year, stated: “We are concerned that the Government has ignored recommendations to include EDI action plans for clubs and oversight of these plans within the IREF .remit.
“We believe that the IREF would be well placed to receive and publish standardized data on compliance with EDI requirements in football, as well as to monitor and enforce equality standards through EDI Action Plans.
“We recommend that the government give the IREF the authority to require EDI action plans as part of its minimum licensing conditions for clubs. The IREF should regularly assess the performance of clubs against these action plans as part of its your routine license reviews.
Kick It Out chief executive Tony Burnett welcomed the committee’s recommendation, adding: “Football has taken too long to make the necessary changes to make it a more welcoming sport.
“There is still a lack of diversity in boardrooms, training and refereeing, while players and fans suffer discrimination from the professional game to the grassroots. There has been progress, but a lack of collaboration and few strong results in the last decade mean it is time to speed up the process.
“That is why we support the recommendations, already made in the fan-led review, that EDI measures are included in the new Football Governance Code and that action plans are part of a club’s licensing conditions. .
“Putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of football governance will help the game grow and therefore safeguard it for future generations.”
The Government will hold round tables in the coming months to boost EDI initiatives across the football pyramid as it continues to engage with the FA, leagues, fan representatives and civil society organisations.
The regulator should also set “substantially higher” fan engagement standards rather than accept existing Premier League standards as a baseline, the committee said.
Football authorities have also been warned to “get to work” on a new financial deal between the Premier League, the EFL and the FA, in which the new regulator will be given back-up powers to impose a settlement by arbitration if you cannot come to one between them. themselves.
However, the ‘New Deal For Football’ talks are progressing well, with regular talks between the three bodies.
