Kick It Out criticise Premier League and demand ‘instant action’ and ‘responsible leadership’ to tackle racism

Kick It Out chairman Lord Ouseley has criticised the Premier League for failing to consult the organisation in the battle against racism.

Ouseley has also demanded “instant action” and “responsible leadership” to better tackle the matter.

A meeting of Premier League shareholders took place on Thursday in London with the league confirming they have “discussed enhancing the range of programmes they currently run to promote inclusion and diversity across football.”

The statement added: “All clubs agreed that while good work has been undertaken, more needs to be done to ensure BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) fans and players are supported.

“They also agreed for pathways to be improved to encourage more people from different backgrounds to take up coaching, refereeing and administrative roles in the sport.

“The League will now consult with external stakeholders, including other football bodies, the Government, equality and inclusion groups, and current and former players and managers on the detail of new work we develop in this area.”

Ouseley, chair of anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, said in a BBC interview published on Thursday: “I think the fact that the Premier League has not consulted with Kick It Out, where there is a considerable amount of expertise and experience to assist them, is contemptuous of the way in which football is.

“It’s sad that the Premier League, who we do receive quite a lot of support from, does not value that in the way in which it is has moved this forward.

“Whether it sees doing this secretly and on its own to gather the acclaim it is maybe seeking because it is right up front with an initiative of its own, I think it is the wrong way to go about doing things and I hope they will see the error of their ways.

“It’s this collective approach and bringing coherence that we’re all in this together that I think is the right way to take forward the spirit of football in the 21st century.

“The problem with football at the present time is it’s very dysfunctional in the way it’s spread across the whole of the game with the Football Association, the PFA, the Football League, the Premier League, the League Managers Association and so on.”

Ouseley – who in December announced his intention to step down from his post at the end of the season – also said: “Those with power do not exercise their responsibilities in the way that will help us deal with this problem.

“Instant action is what we’re looking for – responsible leadership.”

Press Association Sport has sought comment from the Premier League.

The League also on Thursday announced its clubs had voted unanimously to extend the £30 away ticket price cap, which has been in place since the start of 2016-17, for three more seasons.

The renewal of the measure has been welcomed by the Football Supporters’ Federation – even if it feels more can be done.

FSF chief executive Kevin Miles said: “We welcome the Premier League’s recognition of the importance of the £30 away cap and back its decision to keep the cap in place for the coming seasons.

“We have always argued that away supporter attendance needs to be encouraged if the atmosphere and spectacle of a live football match is to be sustained.

“There had been a rapid rise in away ticket costs for many supporters and the cap put a halt on that.

“However, we still believe more can be done and we call on the Premier League to look at ways to further reduce concessionary ticket costs and subsidise fans’ travel costs when games are moved for TV.”

PA