Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FA CHAIRMAN FORCED TO QUIT IN RACISM ROW
GREG CLARKE was forced to resign after a deeply embarrassing day for the English’s Football Association.
Clarke used the phrase “coloured footballers” and made a series of deeply offensive remarks while addressing MPS at the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.
The 63-year-old then quit his position as FA chairman just hours later.
Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott, now chairman of the Football Association’s Inclusion Advisory Board, will be a popular choice to take over, with FA lawyer Peter Mccormick installed on a temporary basis until an appointment is made.
Clarke also made sexist remarks about girls’ football and used the phrase “life choice” when discussing gay footballers.
He then cited the number of South Asians working in the FA’S IT deparment compared to Afro-caribbeans as an example of “different career interests”.
Clarke later issued a statement and 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.”
It is understood that Clarke rang round members of the FA board to see if he still had their trust and, when it became clear their support was not forthcoming, he took the decision to step down.
Sanjay Bhandari, Executive Chair at Kick It Out, said Clarke’s position had become “untenable” and added: “The grisly compilation of lazy stereotypes shows an archaic attitude.
“He must have lost the dressing room and I know people at the FA would have been deeply upset by those comments. I think he talked himself into a corner.”