All Premier League matches between 7 and 23 October will be dedicated to No Room For Racism, as the League reiterates its call for supporters to challenge and report discrimination, wherever they see it. Players will take the knee at all 20 fixtures to show their unity against all forms of discrimination.
This comes as the Premier League, EFL and The FA joined with other football bodies this week in a unified approach in the fight against discrimination, sending a clear message that racism will not be tolerated at any level of the game.
Report racism to the Premier League
Fans can now report online discriminatory abuse they see targeted at Premier League players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families directly at premierleague.com/reportracism. Each report will be investigated by the League’s specialist team.
Through its online abuse reporting system, which launched in 2020, the Premier League provides support for players and others within football who suffer online hate. The League’s dedicated investigation team tracks abuse and reports it to social media companies for removal. The team also works to identify perpetrators around the world, with legal action taken where possible. In the past three seasons, the Premier League has investigated more than 1,000 cases.
Discriminatory abuse is illegal, causes hurt to those targeted and damages football. The Premier League and clubs are committed to working with the authorities to bring offenders to justice and have introduced tougher sanctions. Those identified and found guilty of discrimination will face punishment, including automatic stadium bans and legal prosecution. This can affect education and employment opportunities and could lead to custodial sentences.
Along with the other English football authorities, the League has lobbied the UK Government in the development of the Online Safety Bill, which was passed recently. We will continue to work proactively with the Government, regulators and social media companies to ensure that combatting discriminatory abuse remains a priority.
Fans who experience or witness discrimination while at a Premier League match should contact the nearest steward or police officer, or report it by using clubs’ confidential text services, which can also be found at premierleague.com/reportracism.
No Room For Racism Action Plan
The ongoing No Room For Racism initiative brings together all the work the Premier League undertakes to tackle discrimination and promote equality. In February 2021, the League launched its No Room For Racism Action Plan, which outlines a series of commitments and targets to promote equality, diversity and inclusion and increase opportunities across the game.
As part of this month’s No Room For Racism activity, a film has been created to showcase the importance of diversity on the pitch and how that has played such a pivotal role in the Premier League era, with players from 121 different nations represented since 1992.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “Football is a global game which brings together communities and cultures, uniting people of all backgrounds. There is no doubt that this diversity has helped make the Premier League what it is and we are committed to ensuring this is reflected across all areas of the game.
“Through our No Room For Racism Action Plan, we are working hard to increase opportunities for people from under-represented groups within football, which includes the development of enhanced coaching and executive pathways.
“We have seen unacceptable incidents of racist abuse targeted at players all too frequently this season, both online and within stadiums, and we will not stop in the fight against racism. Everybody has a role to play to ensure football is inclusive for all, and together we can make it clear there is no room for racism or any form of discrimination.”
Developing coaching pathways
A key part of the No Room For Racism Action Plan is the development of coaching and executive pathways for under-represented groups. The Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme and the Professional Player to Coach Scheme are aimed at increasing the numbers of coaches from black, Asian and mixed heritage backgrounds, both male and female, providing them with development opportunities at Premier League or EFL clubs.
Of the coaches who have completed or are currently participating on the programmes, 85 per cent are in employment within the professional game. Participants on these programmes will be profiled on Premier League channels during this No Room For Racism period.
Black History Month
With October also marking Black History Month in the UK, the League and clubs will celebrate black players and others who have made an impact in the game, showcasing how diversity makes football stronger.
Wes Morgan – captain of Leicester City’s Premier League-winning side in 2016 and a member of the League’s Black Participants’ Advisory Group – recently visited a Premier League Kicks session at another of his former clubs, Nottingham Forest, to speak to participants about the power of diversity.
Morgan said: “Football has a special ability to bring people from all backgrounds together. You see this at every level and every age group – from grassroots football and community schemes taking place week in, week out around the country all the way up to the professional game.
“The Premier League is home to the best talent from all around the world and that diversity makes the competition stronger. I was lucky enough to experience it during my career, challenging myself against top internationals and captaining a Leicester team alongside team-mates from Algeria to Austria and Japan to Jamaica. Having a diverse team creates diversity of thought and helps build a team. More importantly, it is a reflection of society,
“In my role as part of the Premier League's Black Participants Advisory Group, we are helping to shape the No Room For Racism Action Plan, which includes measurable targets to combat racism and make the game more diverse in all areas. The message is clear: anybody who doesn’t support this diversity is not welcome in football.”