Premier League launches Action Plan against Racism

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters has called on the need for the Premier League to keep its commitment to promoting equality and tackling discrimination hence the launch of an action plan.

According to him, racism in football especially in the English League is not welcome and the measures put in place will continue t function to curtail any abuse by football stakeholders.

"Football is a diverse sport, which brings together communities and cultures from all backgrounds. This diversity has made the game stronger on the pitch and it is vital we ensure this is reflected across all areas of the game.

"The No Room For Racism Action Plan underpins the Premier League’s continued commitment to promoting equality and tackling discrimination. It builds on the wide-ranging work undertaken by clubs, aiming to ensure that everyone can achieve their potential, regardless of background.

"There is no place for racism in our sport and the Premier League will continue to take action against all forms of discrimination so that football is inclusive and welcoming for all."

The Premier League on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, launched its No Room For Racism Action Plan, to outline "a series of commitments aimed at creating greater access to opportunities and career progression for Black, Asian and other minority ethnic groups in football, and actions to eradicate racial prejudice.'

The  proposed strategy to eradicate the disease from the English game according to the Premier League is in six commitments, that is:

Executive pathways

The Premier League is committed to increasing diversity in leadership positions in all areas, creating a workforce which reflects the diversity of our industry and communities.

The Premier League will create new pathways for people from underrepresented groups into Executive and Board roles in the League, clubs and related organisations.

The Premier League has set mid and long-term workforce diversity targets for its own organisation:
- By 2026, the Premier League aims to have 18 per cent of staff from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background with a target of 30 per cent by 2031.
- By 2026, the Premier League aims to have 42 per cent of roles filled by women, with a target of 50 per cent by 2031.

Coaching pathways

The Premier League is committed to increasing the representation of coaches from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, in the process addressing the historic underrepresentation of Black former players in coaching and other technical roles at senior levels in football.

The Premier League will continue to work with partners across football including the FA, EFL, PFA and LMA to set targets and deliver programmes for underrepresented groups to improve career opportunities and pathways. This will develop more Black, Asian, minority ethnic and female coaches who can succeed at the top level of English football.

This includes an agreed integrated diversity target for all coach development programmes and licensed courses, which will be announced later this year.

Player pathways

The Premier League will work to ensure that every player has the opportunity to achieve their potential at Premier League Academies and in their future careers, whether in football or elsewhere, regardless of ethnicity or background.

The Premier League will conduct a comprehensive analysis to identify areas where action can be taken to widen access, enabling progression of the best talent and improving career outcomes as players or outside football.

Supporting communities

The Premier League is committed to using the appeal and reach of the League and clubs, working together, to help children and young people reach their potential by promoting aspiration, education and pathways to opportunities.

The Premier League will continue to invest via the Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF) in the clubs’ inclusive community programmes such as Premier League Kicks, supporting participants’ personal and social development and increasing opportunities to progress into employment inside and outside football.

The Premier League is reviewing the community workforce and creating initiatives that generate diversity of leadership and inclusiveness of delivery. 

Action against racism

The Premier League will continue to take action against all forms of racism so that football is a welcoming and safe environment for all participants and fans.

Action includes:
- driving awareness and action among fans through the year-round No Room for Racism initiative
- education of fans, children and young people
- making reporting of abusive and discriminatory behaviour easier and more effective
- improving enforcement and the effectiveness of sanctions, whether offences occur in stadiums or online

The Premier League will continue to take action against online discriminatory abuse, supporting players, managers and their families and urging social media companies to take greater proactive interventions.

The Premier League, clubs, PGMOL, the PFA, LMA and supporter organisations will continue to work together to promote equality and inclusion ensuring stadiums are free from discrimination and provide welcoming environments for all fans.

Embedding equality

The Premier League has adopted a transparent approach to driving equality, diversity and inclusion and will provide clubs with a clear framework for achieving and reporting progress against agreed EDI targets.

The revised Premier League Equality Diversity and Inclusion Standard (PLEDIS), which aligns with The Football Leadership Diversity Code, will support clubs in setting clear targets for greater representation of underrepresented groups and providing guidance on how they can be achieved.