The Football Association (FA) has launched a bold new initiative to significantly increase ethnic diversity within its coaching ranks. The ambitious plan sets a target of 30% ethnic minority representation across all England men’s coaching staff – from the senior team down to the under-17s – by 2028. This represents a substantial increase from the current 19%. The FA has termed this a ‘stretch target,’ acknowledging the significant challenge ahead, but also demonstrating its commitment to meaningful change.
This proactive step comes in response to concerns raised earlier this year by the Black Footballers Partnership (BFP). The BFP highlighted the lack of homegrown coaching talent from diverse backgrounds, a stark contrast to the significant number of Black players within the Premier League. Data published by the BFP last year revealed that 43% of Premier League players are Black, yet this representation hasn’t translated into equivalent opportunities in coaching positions. The FA’s new strategy directly addresses this disparity.
The 30% target is accompanied by a minimum target of 25%, showcasing the FA’s determination to achieve substantial progress. This commitment extends beyond the men’s game; the FA also aims to boost ethnic diversity within the Lionesses coaching staff (U17s and above), setting a ‘stretch target’ of 15% (currently at 4%). Furthermore, the organization aims for 60% female representation in the women’s team coaching staff by 2028. These multifaceted goals are integral to the FA’s comprehensive approach to improving diversity and inclusion across all levels of English football.
The ambitious targets are outlined in the FA’s new four-year equality, diversity, and inclusion strategy document, titled ‘A Game Free From Discrimination,’ released on Tuesday. This comprehensive document details the FA’s plan to enhance diversity among participants and officials, foster inclusivity, and actively combat discrimination through improved education and streamlined reporting mechanisms.
To further support these aims, the FA introduced a new rule at the start of the current season, mandating all professional clubs in English leagues to report their workforce diversity data. These reports, commencing next summer and repeated biennially, will provide crucial data to track progress and identify areas needing further attention.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham emphasized the organization’s commitment: “Tackling discrimination is one of our core ambitions, and we will continue to unite the game to confront this societal issue. Through our new strategy, we will work with our partners across football to boost representation, drive inclusion and tackle discrimination at all levels of our game. We have seen how the power of football can bring communities together and celebrate diversity, and we want to continue to use our influence to deliver positive and lasting change that we can all be proud of.” The FA’s proactive strategy represents a significant step towards creating a more representative and inclusive future for English football.
