‘Outdated’ language the downfall of FA chairman
GREG CLARKE was condemned for the ‘unacceptable’ language and ‘lazy stereotypes’ he used which led to his sudden resignation as chairman of the Football Association yesterday.
Clarke, who used ‘outdated’ choices of words when talking about black, Asian, gay and female players, quit after apologising for comments made during a video link call about racist abuse to the digital, cultural, media and sport committee.
The 63-year-old’s remarks came just two weeks after the FA launched a new diversity code aiming to ensure more candidates from ethnic minorities can land top jobs.
‘If I look at what happens to highprofile female footballers, to highprofile coloured footballers, and the abuse they take on social media... [it’s] a free-for-all,’ said Clarke, who is also a Fifa vice-president.
When his choice of word was high
Clarke’s language should remain consigned to the dustbins of history
lighted, Clarke said: ‘If I said it I deeply apologise. I am a product of working overseas, where I was required to use the phrase “people of colour”. Sometimes I trip over my words.’
Clarke’s reference to black players followed comments about Asians in which he said: ‘ If you go to the IT department at the FA, there’s a lot more South Asians than there are Afro-Caribbeans. They have different career interests.’
He drew further criticism after referring to gay players making a ‘life choice’ and young female goalkeepers not liking ‘ the ball being kicked at them hard.’
DCMS committee chair Julian Knight MP tweeted: ‘ This isn’t the first time the @FA has come to grief over these issues. It makes us question their commitment to diversity.’
Former QPR and Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand said Clarke should know ‘using the term “coloured footballers” to reference people of ethnicity is unacceptable!!!!’ And ex-Aston Villa forward Gabriel Agbonlahor tweeted: ‘So the fa chairman now calls us coloured footballers. How will racism end with people like him at the top?’
Stonewall UK, which campaigns for LGBTQ+ equality, condemned Clarke for insinuating being gay is a ‘life choice’ while Sanjay Bhandari, executive chair of equality charity Kick It Out, said Clarke’s language ‘is from decades ago and should remain consigned to the dustbin of history.’
He added: ‘Saying “girls” do not like balls hit at them hard, is staggering from anyone, let alone the leader of our national game. It is completely unacceptable.’ Bhandari also expressed concern at the ‘lazy racist stereotypes about South Asians’, fearing it may partially explain why ‘they are statistically the most under-represented ethnic minority on the pitch’.