Dhanda wants a British-Asian to be FA chairman

SWANSEA midfielder and British South Asian superstar Yan Dhanda, while responding to the recent comments by Greg Clarke, has said that the mistreatment of Asian people in football is often ‘swept under the carpet’.

Dhanda added that he would be happy if a suitably-qualified British Asian applies for FA chairman post.

In an interview to Sky Sports News, Dhanda opined that Clarke’s remarks ‘undo good work of so many in the game’

Clarke resigned from his role as FA chairman last week after making a number of offensive remarks before a digital, culture, media and sport committee, which included using the word “coloured” to describe black players.

He also went on to suggest the lack of South Asians in the game, in comparison to Afro-Caribbean people, was down to the fact they had ‘different career interests’ such as IT.

Asian-led supporters’ groups across the country have criticised the remarks.

According to the former England youth international Dhanda, Clarke’s comments illustrate how little progress has been made in the fight for equality across the game.

‘To be honest, I can’t believe someone so high up in the FA and someone so powerful in football can even be saying comments like that,’ Dhanda, whose father Jas hails from the northern India state of Punjab, told Sky Sports News.

‘The way he was talking about women’s football, the words he was using towards people from different races and from different parts of the world is disgusting really, and obviously the bit that hurt me the most is what he was saying about Asian people and stereotyping them.’

Dhanda thinks an ethnically diverse candidate could thrive in the role of FA chairman, but says ultimately it must go to the best person for the job.