‘Not English’ jibe lands the Welsh FA chief in racism row
WHEN the head of the Welsh Football Association remarked that the team’s new manager could be any nationality except English, it was no doubt meant as a tongue-in-cheek jibe at the expense of the old foe.
However, Jonathan Ford – an Englishman – is to face a disciplinary commission which will investigate whether the comment was racist. Mr Ford made the remark to listeners of BBC Radio Wales during an interview last week.
As the chief executive of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), he is heading the search for a new manager for the national side following the resignation of Chris Coleman last month.
Asked what qualities and characteristics he and the board would be seeking, Mr Ford replied: “We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there. Somebody said this earlier, Welsh most definitely, foreign possibly, but definitely not English.”
The FAW council met this week in Cardiff and voted to set up a disciplinary panel to explore the comments further. It is understood to be concerned that the remark could be considered racist by outsiders.