England centre-back Tyrone Mings believes Greg Clarke’s use of the term “coloured footballers” illustrates how much work is needed to tackle racial inequality.
Mings spoke to the media as news broke of Clarke’s resignation as Football Association chairman following his comments to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee.
The Aston Villa defender, 27, has worked on the FA diversity code but says Clarke’s language is more effectual in highlighting the work that needs to be done on giving black and ethnic minorities more opportunities in senior roles across the sport.
“We still have a long way to go and this probably proves it,” Mings said. “Education is not just the generations coming through, we don’t just have to educate our kids on the society of today or what you can and can’t say. But also people in Greg’s position, who have lived in different cultures and different times to what we are living in at the moment.
“That phrase may have been acceptable once upon a time but with what is going on the world highlights even more than I can, more than what the code can or players or staff, that we still have a long way to go. There is no shame in that. Evidently we have a long way to go in our association but in wider society as well.”
Mings did point out the work the FA have started to tackle systemic racism, which includes clubs signing up to the diversity code and setting targets on black representation. But he also admitted Clarke’s language will have sparked anger.
“Football is such a diverse community that we have to be aware of what is appropriate for one another,” he said. “We have to be careful and mindful of the terminology we use. I’m sure there are other people around the country who are angry as well.
“In that diversity code we couldn’t cover everything. [Terminology] wasn’t discussed. We spoke about the pathways blocked and the opportunities that haven’t been as easy to get if you’re a black coach or black player coming out of the game looking to get into different roles. But the code is ever evolving.”
