2 weeks Ago
The Premier League have come under fire from an MP who has called a coaching role "anti-white racism". Rupert Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth, and former chairman at Southampton aimed fire over a Premier League funded coaching role as part of the Coach Inclusion & Diversity Scheme. The Premier League's commitment to providing opportunities for coaches from under-represented backgrounds is one of the six key pillars of the league's No Room for Racism action plan (Image: Andrew Matthews) The Premier League website describes CIDs as a programme aimed at increasing the number of female coaches and male Black, Asian and mixed heritage coaches from a variety of backgrounds in full-time coaching positions in English professional football.
An advert for the role put out by partnering clubs such as Ipswich Town and Fulham came under fire from Mr Lowe because he said it "banned white men from applying". The advert for the role did not specify any ethnicity could not apply but was "open to coaches who are currently under represented within English Professional Football" and listing male coaches from Black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds, and female coaches from all backgrounds. 45 clubs have engaged with the schemes across the Premier League and the English Football League.
It is understood that the wording around the role was guided by the Premier League. Ipswich Town has currently removed the job role from its website. CID is one of two coach inclusion programmes the league funds as part of its No Room for Racism Campaign.
The aim of the schemes is part of the Premier League's long-standing commitment to provide opportunities for coaches from under-represented backgrounds to find their place in football. Through these programmes have supported more than 80 coaches in their journey with 75 of them now working in professional football. Rupert Lowe is currently under investigation by the Metropolitan Police (Image: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire) Rupert Lowe is currently suspended from Reform UK in relation to allegations of bullying in the MP’s offices and accusations of threats of physical violence towards the party chairman, which he denies.
The Premier League was contacted for comment..
