The Culture Secretary and Sports Minister have led a
roundtable discussion today with current and former players
from the Premier League, English Football League (EFL),
Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship, to get
the players’ perspective on tackling discrimination and
abuse in the game, as part of their series of discussions
on the “Future of Football”.
Players who shared their views included Liverpool’s Jordan
Henderson and Rinsola Babajide, Aston Villa’s Tyrone Mings
and Watford’s Troy Deeney, alongside former players
including Karen Carney and Anton Ferdinand.
Many of those joining the call shared their powerful
experiences of the abuse they or their fellow footballers
have faced, and the action they would like to see to tackle
this problem. The meeting was called by Ministers ahead of
them introducing new laws to hold social media companies to
account for online harms, and a fan-led review of football
governance.
Ministers listened to players talk about their direct
experiences of discrimination in the men’s and women’s
game, and the challenges in reporting and getting help with
this. Representatives from the game also talked about the
need to drive forward diversity in leadership in the game,
and welcomed recent steps taken by clubs to support this.
MInisters in turn shared the plans for changing the law to
tackle online harms. The Bill, due to come before
Parliament in 2021, will require tech firms to take action
so that what is unacceptable in the street and in stands,
is unacceptable online too. The Government is taking
soundings from a variety of figures in football, prior to
formally launching a fan led governance review, as
committed to in the 2019 manifesto which will shape reform
of the national game. Ministers opened the series in
November bringing together leaders from across football
where they discussed financial sustainability and
governance, diversity and growing the women’s game.
Following the meeting a financial package was agreed
between the Premier League and the EFL, and the Government
announced funding for National League and women’s football
clubs.
Culture Secretary said:
“To hear players talk about the level of abuse they have
faced was humbling. Their input today has strengthened my
resolve to bring in new laws to ensure there is much
greater accountability from the social media platforms for
dealing with such problems.
“As we shape the “Future of Football” and look towards our
football governance review, we must tackle issues around
discrimination and lack of equality of opportunity head on.
I am grateful to this group of players for sharing their
experiences and expertise to help the Government’s work.”
Liverpool FC player and captain Jordan Henderson said:
“The meeting was very important and I’m pleased that those
with power and authority to enact change realise the
seriousness of the abuse towards players.”
Aston Villa FC player Tyrone Mings said:
I was pleased that the Secretary of State wanted to
engage with, and listen to, the thoughts of us as players
and ex players. Hopefully this adds context when he
attempts to deliver change on behalf of us.
Chair of the Football Association’s Inclusion Advisory
Board Paul Elliott said:
Just like the stakeholders and clubs have shown by
signing up to the diversity code the Secretary of State,
DCMS and the Government has evidenced genuine appetite
and leadership for change.
Notes to editors:
List of attendees:
