Lord Mann welcomes English football’s new equality code

The Government’s antisemitism tsar has welcomed English football’s new equality code, arguing that something similar should now be introduced in cricket.

It comes as the Football Association, which runs the domestic leagues and cup competitions for both women and men, said it would be addressing a “longstanding challenge” of limited diversity, with a special focus to be placed on recruitment.

The initiative was driven by campaigners for “proper representation of Black and Asian footballers at every level of the game, has been greatly inspired by the Black Lives Matters movement”.

Antisemitism advisor Lord Mann, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday with Imam Qari Asim, the Government’s advisor on the definition of Islamophobia, said the England and Wales Cricket Board should now adopt “a similar initiative”.

The new Football Leadership Diversity Code is intended to “drive diversity and inclusion across English football” including more than 40 clubs across the Premier League, English Football League, Women’s Super League and Championship.

The Football Association said it “focuses on increasing equality of opportunity with hiring targets – rather than quotas – to encourage recruitment from across society,” while adding that hiring would be based on merit.

“The aim is to move away from recruitment practices focused on personal networks, which is a longstanding challenge across football and has limited the diversity in leadership across the game.”