Clarke comments show there’s still ‘a long way to go’
TYRONE MINGS says the downfall of Greg Clarke as Football Association chairman shows there is still ‘a long way to go’ to educate people about discrimination.
Clarke resigned hours after using terms such as ‘coloured footballers’ in a discussion on diversity with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee. He apologised after being invited to say sorry by MP Kevin Brennan.
Speaking before Clarke, 63, quit last night, England defender Mings, one of the players consulted as part of the new FA diversity code, said: ‘I don’t think there’s any excusing it and I wouldn’t try and defend something because, the fact he came out and apologised, I think he knows he’s done wrong.
‘He knows he fell short of what he should know and that’s what we’re asking for really – that you understand the world we’re living in and what you can and can’t say.
‘I don’t think he would excuse it himself. It’s unfortunate that was the case because we’re doing such great work and trying to drive things forward and highlight these topics.
‘[But] I don’t think it’s set us back one bit, it’s probably shone a light on what we’re saying. We still have a long way to go, we still have to educate each other. We have to stay on top of it and be aware ourselves and take responsibility for what we say and the decisions we make.
‘Educating generations that are coming through is one thing but also understanding we’re living in one world and people that came before us are living in another one.’
Meanwhile, England’s Nations League game against Iceland at Wembley next Wednesday could yet be rearranged following the government’s ban on arrivals from Denmark, which includes all elite sportspeople who had previously been exempt from restrictions.
Iceland would need to travel from Copenhagen to Wembley, meaning the tie could be switched to a neutral venue, possibly Albania.
Mings said: ‘We are about preparing for each game as it comes and controlling the controllables, really.
‘We can’t control whether that game goes ahead, or where. Our focus is on [Ireland on] Thursday.’
It’s what we’re asking for – that you understand what you can and can’t say