Brighton manager Hope Powell has called out the lack of inclusivity and diversity in the women’s game and believes more work needs to be done to make football accessible to all.
Powell’s criticisms were made following Les Ferdinand’s comments on the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code, with the QPR director of football saying the rules “made no difference whatsoever” in helping black players attain jobs in football.
And Powell believes the women's game in particular needs to be more forthright in creating opportunities to increase accessibility and inclusivity on and off the pitch, especially in light of England's recent Euro 2022 glory which saw a stark dearth of ethnic diversity in the championing squad.
"[I'd like to see] more opportunities created in the women's game," Powell said in her pre-match press conference before her side's clash with Chelsea in the Women's Super League.
"It has been spoken about during the summer, the lack of diversity on the pitch, and I think work needs to be done to ensure that football is accessible to everybody and football doesn’t seem to be that way.
"I know that’s something that the FA have looked at with the emerging talent centres. I guess we can be judge and jury when those centres are in place, and over a course of time, we will look at it again and decide if they have worked or haven’t worked."
The Football Association’s Diversity Code was launched in 2020 with the aim to tackle racial inequality in the English game.
A new report showed that while 43% of Premier League and 34% of English Football League players are black, only 4.4% of managers are black. It also stated that 14% of those with top coaching qualifications - a Uefa pro licence - are black, while only 1.6% of executive, leadership and ownership positions in football are held by black people.
Powell agreed that the diversity levels on the pitch, particularly in the Premier League, have failed to be adequately translated off the pitch and more work “absolutely” needs to be done to bring the game into parity.
“Is there a lack of people of colour if you like that are leaders in the game? There is definitely a lack,” Powell said in the lead-up to Brighton Women’s WSL clash with Chelsea on Saturday.
“Does it translate, certainly from the Premier League, from on the pitch to off the pitch? No, it doesn’t. Is there work still to be done? Absolutely.
“I think we’re a long way away from where we think, as in people of colour think, it needs to be. Given the amount of, certainly in the men’s game, the amount of black players playing in the PL, it doesn’t quite translate into those leadership roles.”
