English Football Association (FA) chair Greg Clarke had to resigned over the "unacceptable" language he used when referring to Black players.
During an online parliamentary hearing about the racist abuse of players by trolls on social media with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee via video link the head of the game in England caused incredibly huge offence the offence after using the term "coloured footballers" – after being pulled up about it he then said he was "deeply saddened" for using it. He was prompted to say sorry by MP Kevin Brennan, who said Clarke's lame language in reference to Black players was the kind that did not encourage inclusion,
Fellow committee member Alex Davies-Jones called it "abhorrent" and went on to say: "It speaks volumes about the urgent progress that needs to be made in terms of leadership on equalities issues in sport. I can't believe we're still here in 2020." He also faced criticism when referring to gay players making a "life choice" and a coach telling him young female players did not like having the ball hit hard at them and also said that there were "a lot more South Asians than there are Afro-Caribbeans" in the FA's IT department because "they have different career interests".
Following his resignation, Clarke said: "My unacceptable words in front of Parliament were a disservice to our game and to those who watch, play, referee and administer it. This has crystallised my resolve to move on.
"I am deeply saddened that I have offended those diverse communities in football that I and others worked so hard to include."
An FA statement followed which read: “We can confirm that Greg Clarke has stepped down from his role as our chairman."A statement from Show Racism the Red Card said Clarke's comments "only serve to demonstrate the power of language and the damage of stereotyping groups of people".
Sanjay Bhandari, executive chair of equality charity Kick It Out said his remark about Black players should be "consigned to the dustbin of history" and also criticised his comments concerning people from South Asia, gay players and female footballers.
DCMS select committee chair, Julian Knight, said: "It's right that Greg Clarke apologised before the committee. However, this isn't the first time that the FA has come to grief over these issues. It makes us question their commitment to diversity."
Former England striker,Darren Bent, said: "Slip of the tongue was it? Awful, just awful," whilst former West Ham, Sunderland and QPR defender Anton Ferdinand, added: "Clearly education is needed at all levels."
Clarke had been called to give evidence to the DCMS committee about the Premier League's potential bailout of English Football League clubs and the structural reforms proposed as part of 'Project Big Picture'. During the zoom call, he spoke of the “need to attract people into the sport from a diverse range of communities.”
His departure follows the FA recently launching a new diversity code with the aim of finally tackling racial inequality in the game - a commitment to diversity again is still being called into question.
