JACK: MINGS WAS RIGHT TO PROTEST
a chance to make difference for them.”
Southgate referenced the leadership shown by England stars Rashford, Harry Maguire, Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold through various fund-raising initiatives during the coronavirus pandemic.
And he also believes Sancho and Sterling, in their response to the George Floyd killing in America, represent a new generation.
The England chief a said:
“When you meet the players and their families, you have an understanding of why they are the men they are. We have hopefully allowed them to have a voice when they have been with us.
“But I also think they are wired to have a voice, have an opinion, to recognise they can make an impact. To not just sit back and accept the status quo.”
When he highlighted the different chances afforded to Gerrard and Lampard as ophave posed to Campbell and Cole, and the lack of diversity in the corridors of FA power, Sterling certainly made an impact.
Southgate (with Rashford, left) acknowledged the thrust of Sterling’s points but insisted football and the FA are trying to change.
“There has been a lot of work done at board level to make the boardroom more representative,” he said.
“Paul Elliott’s involvement is an important one, not only in the respect of diversity but also to have an experienced footballer on the board. I don’t think it would be right to talk about the individuals Raheem mentioned other than to say that I think Ashley Cole is developing very well on a similar route to what Steven (Gerrard) did.
“But on a broader scale, we lack that representation. The biggest crime for us, if we’re adults looking at kids, is if they sit and think that a path in life isn’t possible.
“I heard Jermain Defoe talking a few days ago saying ‘is it worth me taking my qualifications?’
“That’s what we have to avoid. We have to make sure the opportunity is there when people are qualified and capable. There are some really powerful messages out there and a lot of those will be uncomfortable for white people in particular.
“They are critical voices to be heard. In the end, it is important to hear from those black voices, but it is also important to hear from white voices because, ultimately, they are going to be the people in the positions to make decisions and can open up opportunity and make a difference.We are the ones who have to be educated.”
JACK GREALISH has defended Aston Villa team-mate Tyrone Mings for joining a Black Lives Matter protest.
Some fans voiced concerns Mings (below) broke social distancing guidelines at Thursday’s 4,000-strong rally in Birmingham.
But skipper Grealish said: “The city we’re from – Birmingham is very multicultural. We’ve people of all races here, we accept every race here.
“We’ve a person here who’s a very big name in England at the moment who likes to speak out, and should do. With Covid-19 and all the stuff in America, it’s not the best – but as a team and as a city we’re trying to do what we can to help.”
Mings, who wore a face mask at the protest, endured racist chants from Bulgaria fans on his England debut.
‘They are wired to have an opinion, to recognise they can make an impact. To not just sit back and accept the status quo’