Asked by
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they have identified
that the Football Association requires to address levels of
racism in football.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport ()
(Con)
My Lords, racism and all forms of discrimination have no place in
football or society. We must confront this vile behaviour. Last
February, the Government brought together football stakeholders,
including the FA, for an anti-discrimination summit, and in July
the football authorities set out their list of actions to tackle
discrimination, including increasing the minimum sanction for
discriminatory behaviour, introducing stronger education measures
and improving reporting systems. I met with the FA yesterday and
discussed their actions on discrimination. While progress is
definitely being made, obviously there is more to do. We will be
calling on the footballing authorities for a further update
shortly.
(LD)
I thank the Minister for that response. However, can the
Government give us an undertaking that they will undertake some
of the activities which the Football Association has brought
forward in its snappily titled “mandatory education programme
offer,” ensuring in particular that every fan knows what
constitutes racism and the effect that it has not only on players
but on fellow fans?
I understand the urgency in the noble Lord’s question and
encourage him to look at the FA’s website—I am sure he knows it
better than I do—which has excellent links to education
resources. The Government cannot ensure that every person has
seen it, but we are working closely with and keeping very close
tabs on the FA to ensure that it takes this responsibility very
seriously.
(CB)
My Lords, does the Minister agree that the tackling of racial
abuse in the Premiership and the persistent racial disparities
within the Premier League is moving painfully slowly? One third
of Premiership footballers are non-white—in old money, black—yet
we have only one black manager, Nuno Espírito Santo of
Wolverhampton Wanderers. I am not sure if there are any
Wolverhampton fans here. If so, sorry about last night. I am not
sure if there are any assistant coaches, chief executives or
board members of colour. Can the Minister pledge to convene a
meeting with the necessary actors, including the police, to
encourage, and where possible demand, a comprehensive programme
to tackle the scourge of racism and close the racial disparities?
The beautiful game must confront and deal with this ugly racism.
I thank the noble Lord for his question. He raises important
points about diversity across all levels and all roles within the
game. For the benefit of Chelsea fans, yesterday I met Paul
Elliott, who I gather was a former captain of Chelsea, who now
chairs the Inclusion Advisory Board for the FA. He felt more
confident about the progress that is being made, particularly in
relation to coaches. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Bull, who
is not in her place, for sending me research on the importance of
this point. Sport England is investing £2 million a year into the
FA to support its work in ensuring that the coaching workforce is
more diverse. The board of the FA contains four women and two
people of colour, so it is trying to lead from the front.
(Con)
My Lords, I welcome the opening comments of my noble friend in
identifying that this is an issue not only of racism in football
but of diversity in sport and society in general and that we have
to tackle it in all forms. My own sport of rugby union faced its
difficulty in relation to homophobia, and I pay credit to the RFU
and other organisations last year who worked so well with my club
and others to tackle such issues. However, is it not inherent in
our society that if we are to give advice to others, the language
used by some Members in this House should be temperate, sensible
and appropriate and not what I, as a gay man, would deem to be
abusive?
I will comment on my noble friend’s final remark first. I can
only agree with him. Each of us individually has to take
responsibility for the language we use and put ourselves in the
shoes of those who might find it offensive in any way. Work
continues in relation to homophobia, in football specifically,
and we very much welcome the Rainbow Laces campaign which the FA
led last year.
(Lab)
My Lords, it is now 20 years since the Football (Disorder) Act
was enacted to tackle racist thugs. Does the Minister agree that,
given the shocking 123% rise in racist incidents since 2016, now
might be the time to consider increasing penalties and
strengthening powers to tackle this appalling problem in our
football grounds?
The noble Lord is very patient. He raised this point only 19
years ago, but we are now further on. The question of the
efficacy of the legislation can be divided into two parts:
whether the legislation is fit for purpose and is being
implemented properly, and if it is not fit for purpose whether we
need to amend it. My honourable friend the Minister for Sport is
seeking a meeting with the Home Secretary to discuss this.
(CB)
My Lords, many acts of racism occur in grounds during matches.
However, social media has become a breeding ground and some
providers allow the worst abuse to remain posted. Have Her
Majesty’s Government considered how the online harms consultation
White Paper could be used to look at this form of abuse?
Before I reply to the noble Baroness’s question, I am sure the
House will join me in congratulating her—she is wincing—on her
incredibly well-deserved lifetime achievement award from the
BBC’s “Sports Personality of the Year”. The noble Baroness is
absolutely right. Again, from talking yesterday with the FA, it
is clear that players feel racism when they turn on their phones
as well as on the field. That is very much part of what we will
be considering in the online harms Bill.
