Now that’s a diverse XI!

TOMORROW afternoon at approximately 2.15pm, Parliament will debate the governance of the Football Association. The motion: ‘That this House has no confidence in the ability of the Football Association to comply fully with its duties as a governing body, as the current governance structures of the FA make it impossible for the organisation to reform itself; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the governance of the FA.’ It has been brought by the Culture, Media and Sport Committee led by Conservative MP Damian Collins. ‘The committee published two reports in the last Parliament calling for reform of the FA, to allow representatives of fans, women’s football, black, Asian and minority ethnic groups, officials such as referees and the grassroots sport a significantly greater say in the governance of the game,’ a statement from the committee read. We can see why such a diverse group of 11 MPs would be affronted by the glacial advance of reform at the FA. Just to recap, then, the committee members are: Damian Collins (white, male, 43); Nigel Adams (white, male, 50); Andrew Bingham (white, male, 54); Paul Farrelly (white, male, 54); Nigel Huddleston (white, male, 46); Julian Knight (white, male, 45); Ian C Lucas (white, male, 56); Chris Matheson (white, male, 49); Jason McCartney (white, male, 49); John Nicolson (white, male, 55); and Julie Elliott (white, female, 53). So 10 white guys between the age of 43 and 56, and a 53-year-old white woman will school the FA on diversity and inclusion. This is why satire is dead.

Sunderland are off on a four-night team bonding trip to new York; Middlesbrough are heading for a warm-weather camp in southern Spain. Only in football is the penalty for playing badly an all-expenses paid holiday.