‘Rooney Rule’ adopted by English Football Association in diversity bid
Since the job was created 72 years ago, every manager of the England men’s football team has been white. When a successor to Gareth Southgate is eventually required, at least one black or ethnic minority candidate is set to be interviewed.
Drawing inspiration from the NFL, the English Football Association announced on Tuesday it had adopted its version of the ‘Rooney Rule’, which requires teams to interview a diverse pool of candidates for coaching and management positions.
“It is the right thing to do but there is also a business case for it,” FA chief executive Martin Glenn said while overlooking the pitch at Wembley Stadium. “If your management team reflects more the people that you are serving then you’re going to make correct decisions.”
The FA’s Rooney Rule covers jobs across all 28 national teams organised under the England flag, including youth and disability squads for men and women. Currently, only one manager is black: Kevin Betsy, who runs the men’s under-15s.
The women’s team was led into the 2007 and 2011 World Cups by Hope Powell, who is black. The team currently requires a new coach.
The FA’s push to foster greater diversity follows a damaging row last year around the women’s …read more
