The leading anti-discrimination organisation in English football has expressed significant disappointment with the initial proposals put forth by the sport’s newly established independent regulator, arguing that they fall critically short of addressing the deep-seated inequalities within the game. Kick It Out, a prominent voice in the fight for equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in football, stated that the current framework "puts equality, diversity and inclusion on the subs bench," failing to provide the robust mechanisms needed to drive meaningful change.
The Independent Football Regulator (IFR), tasked with overseeing governance across the top five tiers of the men’s game, is in the process of devising a new code of governance. A key component of this code mandates that clubs demonstrate concrete actions to tackle the under-representation of minority groups within their structures to be granted a licence to operate. However, correspondence seen by BBC Sport, submitted by Kick It Out as part of the IFR’s consultation process, reveals a stark assessment of the proposed measures. The organisation asserts that these initial proposals are "inadequate" and "don’t go far enough in addressing the stubborn challenges that the game currently sees."
A Critical Assessment of the Regulator’s Initial Stance
Samuel Okafor, Chief Executive of Kick It Out, articulated the organisation’s deep concerns, stating, "We’ve been really clear with the regulator in terms of the gap that currently exists. And the gap is significant. We’re really concerned that what we’ve seen in the first proposal, in essence, puts EDI [equality, diversity and inclusion] on the subs bench, [and] maintains the status quo. It’s really important that the regulator uses the powers that it has to drive the change that we all want to see."
The sentiment from Kick It Out suggests a belief that the proposed licensing requirements are too lenient and lack the necessary teeth to compel clubs to enact substantial, systemic changes. The organisation’s submission highlights the persistent under-representation of women, ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community across various levels of football, particularly in senior leadership and coaching roles.
The Data Paints a Stark Picture
The urgency of Kick It Out’s concerns is underscored by recent data on workforce diversity within English football. The first comprehensive publication of such data last year revealed a troubling landscape. In the Premier League, for instance, women occupied only 22% of board and senior leadership positions. Ethnic minority individuals held a mere 3.2% of these roles, while those with disabilities accounted for 0.9%, and members of the LGBTQ+ community represented just 0.3%.
The situation is reportedly even more dire in senior coaching roles. Across the entirety of the 92 clubs in the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL), Kick It Out noted that only a "handful of clubs match local census data across these four demographics." This indicates a widespread failure by clubs to reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and the wider society.
Furthermore, Kick It Out pointed out that since the FA made the publication of EDI data mandatory—a move prompted by clubs’ failure to meet diversity targets for non-playing staff—there has been a notable inconsistency in the detail provided by clubs. Crucially, "very few clubs openly publicised the data," making it difficult to track progress and hold organisations accountable.
Kick It Out’s Proposed Solutions for Meaningful Change
In response to the perceived shortcomings of the IFR’s initial proposals, Kick It Out has put forward a series of robust recommendations. Chief among these is the demand for the annual publication of clubs’ workforce diversity data. This would ensure greater transparency and allow for continuous monitoring of progress.
Moreover, Kick It Out is advocating for every club to establish board-level accountability for EDI initiatives. This would embed EDI at the highest echelons of club decision-making, ensuring it is treated as a strategic priority rather than a peripheral concern. The organisation also desires a standardised format for the data, making it more accessible to the public and easier to compare across different clubs.
A key recommendation is for the IFR to publish an annual EDI benchmarking report. This report would serve to highlight best practices, identify areas where clubs are lagging, and foster a competitive environment for improving diversity and inclusion.
The Imperative for Annual Reporting
Kick It Out strongly believes that annual publication of diversity data, rather than the proposed biennial reporting, is "critical for accountability, visibility and consistent progress." The organisation argues that infrequent reporting risks allowing issues to fester and progress to stall, thereby perpetuating the status quo.
The submission further posits a direct link between football’s "slow progress on EDI" and "weak governance structures and a lack of strategic oversight from club leadership." This suggests that without strong regulatory oversight and a clear commitment from club boards, meaningful change will remain elusive.
To that end, Kick It Out has urged the IFR to "embed EDI as a core regulatory objective, and establish an advisory board to evaluate club performance." This advisory board, composed of experts in the field, could provide invaluable guidance and objective assessment of clubs’ EDI efforts, ensuring that they are not merely paying lip service to the issue but are actively working towards tangible outcomes.
Recent Incidents Underscore the Urgency
The call for stronger action comes at a time when the issue of discrimination in football has been brought into sharp focus by recent events. Just last month, police confirmed they were investigating multiple instances of online racial abuse directed at four Premier League players over a single weekend. This spate of incidents serves as a stark reminder of the persistent problem of racism and discrimination that continues to plague the sport.
Samuel Okafor highlighted the significance of these incidents, stating, "It should send a message to the regulators [over] the importance of why EDI really matters, why they need to prioritise it, why they need to take it seriously." The continued prevalence of such abhorrent behaviour underscores the inadequacy of current measures and the pressing need for a more proactive and robust regulatory approach.
The Regulator’s Response and the Path Forward
In response to Kick It Out’s criticisms, an IFR spokesperson indicated that the regulator will soon launch a second consultation on its licensing policy. The spokesperson stated, "and so it is premature to assert deficiencies in our approach to EDI." This suggests that the IFR acknowledges the ongoing nature of the consultation process and is open to further input before finalising its policies.
However, Kick It Out’s firm stance implies that the initial proposals, as they stand, are insufficient to address the scale of the problem. The organisation’s detailed submission, supported by stark data, provides a clear roadmap for what is required to move beyond tokenistic gestures towards genuine, systemic change.
The effectiveness of the IFR in driving EDI reforms will ultimately depend on its willingness to heed the warnings and recommendations of organisations like Kick It Out. The sport’s stakeholders, including clubs, governing bodies, and fans, are watching closely to see if the regulator can indeed deliver on its promise to create a more inclusive and equitable future for English football. The success of this new regulatory body will be a crucial barometer for the game’s commitment to tackling discrimination and fostering a welcoming environment for all. The coming months, as the IFR progresses through its consultation phases, will be pivotal in determining whether EDI will be given a starting role or remain on the sidelines.
