Anti-racism match balls to be used in top flight

THE Premier League will roll out specially-designed footballs for the next two weeks as a show of commitment towards the fight against racism.

Sportsmail can reveal that all top flight fixtures this and next weekend will be played with balls carrying the slogan ‘No Room For Racism’ — the name of the Premier League’s anti-discrimination campaign. In a week where racism in football has been at the forefront of the national agenda following the disgraceful abuse England players were subjected to in Bulgaria, the Premier League are re-asserting their anti-discrimination campaign. Teams who are playing at home this weekend have been sent the white version

of the ball. Next weekend, home clubs will be sent the high-visibility version in luminous yellow. The Premier League have also filmed a video featuring the likes of Raheem Sterling and Tammy Abraham to encourage supporters to report instances of racial abuse. It will be aired before matches over the next two weekends. Sportsmail understands Arsenal legend Ian Wright is one of the figures on a eight-person black, Asian and minority ethnic panel set-up by the Premier League to tackle the issue of racism. Doncaster manager Darren Moore chairs the group, while Leicester defender Wes Morgan and former Newcastle striker Shola Ameobi are also involved. Meanwhile, Bulgaria national team coach Krasimir Balakov has resigned following the racist abuse his team’s supporters subjected England players to on Monday night. The 53-year-old was in charge of the team in the 6-0 defeat by England in Sofia which was marred by racist chanting and Nazi salutes from home fans. The Bulgarian Football Union executive committee held a press conference yesterday afternoon where it was confirmed that Balakov, along with the entire committee, had tendered their resignations. Balakov’s comments prior, during and after Monday’s Euro 2020 qualifier sparked enormous controversy. On Sunday the national team boss intimated the growing race problem in English football was greater than it is in Bulgaria. And during the game he is understood to have described the abuse Three Lions players were receiving during the game as ‘normal’. Immediately after the defeat, Balakov insisted he hadn’t heard any racial abuse during the game and instead accused the English supporters of behaving disrespectfully. However, on Wednesday Balakov was forced into an embarrassing climbdown and said sorry to the players who were victims of racial discrimination.