The Premier League’s refusal to publicise the diversity of their workforce was branded a “kick in teeth” as the organisation stuck by their decision to keep their statistics hidden.
As part of an i investigation into the diversity of English footballs’ stakeholders, we revealed on Wednesday that the Premier League had refused to share what percentage of their staff were from BAME backgrounds, despite the Football Association, English Football League and Professional Footballers’ Association making their figures public, owning up to deficiencies and vowing to improve.
The League Managers Association became the latest of English football’s major bodies to reveal theirs, telling i that they employ 26 staff in total – who make up the LMA Committee, LMA executive and other employees – and two are from BAME backgrounds.
Chris Hughton, the former Brighton and Newcastle United manager, is on the executive committee and Wayne Allison, the former Bristol City and Chesterfield striker, is the organisation’s technical director.
“The LMA embraces diversity, through its culture and recruitment and we constantly strive to maintain and build a diverse organisation,” LMA chief executive Richard Bevan told i.
“We run a programme of diversity education for our team members and diversity is at the heart of our personal development programmes delivered through the LMA Institute.”
The Premier League, who are signed up to the National Equality Standard, declined to reconsider their decision on Wednesday. Their refusal to reveal their diversity figures has come at a time when they have taken a strong public stance in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Former England, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham winger Trevor Sinclair tweeted: “That’s a kick in the teeth after PL clubs have done so well with their stance on black lives matter – equality campaign.”
The PFA’s head of equalities Simone Pound told i: “This is an opportune time for businesses to reflect and address the importance of diversity within their organisation.”
Exclusive:
The Premier League have refused to reveal the diversity of their workforce. As part of an @theipaper investigation into the diversity of English football's stakeholders, the FA, EFL & PFA have shared their figures and vowed to improve.
Story: https://t.co/RjeaZ2GQFH
— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) July 2, 2020
Kick It Out’s head of development Troy Townsend questioned how the public would know how representative the Premier League’s workforce is if they keep the statistics private. “Are all figures present and correct and up to what levels?” Townsend tweeted.
The lack of BAME representation within governing bodies across sports was described as a “disaster” by Chris Grant, Sport England independent board member and one of British sport’s most senior black administrators.
“It’s more than a disappointment, it’s a disaster, and I think it’s a disaster for sport and for the country,” Grant told Sky Sports.
“This isn’t about doing stuff because it’s nice, it’s about doing stuff because it makes a real difference to the quality of the operation of these organisations across sport.
“Frankly, it’s not just about the boardroom, it’s about the executive teams. As a board member, I have limited ability to get stuff done.
“The people who get stuff done are the directors and officers within these organisations and frankly the picture is even worse there.”
The bodies who shared their diversity statistics have insisted they intend to improve. The figures, shared with i, reveal that only six per cent of the FA’s leadership team and only 12 per cent of their entire workforce are from BAME backgrounds.
The FA, however, have a three-year Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan, of which they are halfway through, and have set clear targets to meet. By 2021 they aim to have 16 per cent of all staff and 11 per cent of their leadership team from BAME backgrounds.
Only six per cent of the EFL’s entire staff team are from BAME backgrounds, but the organisation insisted they are working hard to change that.
“The EFL has engaged with a number of employees to discuss issues of equality in the workforce, in respect of next steps to improve representation, including new initiatives and training and development opportunities as we look to embed a wider cultural shift amongst the League,” they told i.
All 22 players and the referee took a knee after the whistle was blown for kick-off in tonight's Premier League match at Villa Park in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Powerful statement #BlackLivesMatter #PremierLeague #AVLSHU #VillaPark #AstonVilla #AVFC #AstonVillaFC #SheffieldUnited #SUFC #SheffieldUnitedFC #PL #EPL #PremierLeagueIsBack #ProjectRestart #football #footballnews #BLM #BlackLivesMatterUK
“This is change for the long term and therefore the EFL will reflect and review practices to ensure that progressive and sustainable change is implemented for the benefit of all.”
At the PFA, already 24 per cent of their staff and almost half – 43 per cent – of their trustees are from BAME backgrounds. They have promised to increase the number within their management committee – at only seven per cent – in the next cohort.
The latest census figures – from 2011 and likely now higher – suggest 14 per cent of the UK population are from BAME backgrounds. In football, however, it is far higher, at around 30 per cent.
It is not a legal requirement for organisations to monitor equality of their workforce but it has been recommended practise by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission for several years.
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