Football clubs may have to shortlist black candidates for managerial and coaching jobs if a new positive discrimination rule picks up backing.
The Professional Footballers Association wants a UK version of the controversial US ‘Rooney Rule’ that forces NFL clubs to look at employing more black back-room staff.
The rule is named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who pushed for the move to encourage more black coaches in the US game.
The PFA sees the problem as unfair to black footballers who retire. Around a fifth of all players in the 92 English league clubs are black or from an ethnic minority background, but only two have black managers – Chris Hughton at Birmingham and Chris Powell at Charlton Athletic.
The only other high profile black football manager has been former England international and Manchester Player Paul Ince, who left Notts County in April.
The PFA has asked US civil rights lawyer Cyrus Mehri to London to discuss the proposals. Mehri was the driving force behind implementing the Rooney Rule in the States. He is due to discuss the rule with the FA, Premier League and the League Managers Association.
US clubs face stiff fines for not considering black job candidates. One club was fined $200,000 for breaching the terms.
“The concept is feasible and I am sure the success in the US can be replicated here,” said Mehri. “It will make clubs more competitive and spawn more jobs for both black and white candidates.
“The issue is not forcing clubs to hire minority candidates but to give them a chance because the clubs may not realise what they are missing.”
The Professional Footballers Association has already announced full backing for the move.
“We have monitored the progress in the US,” said PFA chief executive Bobby Barnes.
“Black players have told us that they felt their avenues in to coaching and management were restricted. Even if they gain their professional coaching badges, there are no jobs for them. This cannot be right.”
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