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Greg Clarke’s sudden resignation from the Football Association comes during a global crisis.
On Tuesday, Clarke apologized and resigned as FA president after referring to the BAME footballers as “colored” in testifying to deputies.
Clarke used the phrase when answering a question about the difficulty of gay players in the men’s game due to the reaction from social media during a meeting of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee on Tuesday.
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Amid a deadly pandemic, with the game losing £ 100 million a month, the FA needs stable leadership more than ever.
Clarke told Sky Sports News that he is “going back to the business world” and has commented on his deep appreciation for the “great people I have worked with,” but that he will continue in his role as one of the most powerful officials in the world. football until February.
Clarke’s resignation as FIFA vice-president, in the FIFA Council, which governs the entire government, has been delayed, he says, to protect UEFA’s voting rights until a replacement is appointed at a meeting within three. months.
The governing body of English football has the final say on the game. From his ‘special participation’ in the Premier League to grassroots football and everything in between.
Clarke apologized for her comments before later announcing that she had resigned from her position.
Clarke has praised the “excellent” executive leadership led by Mark Bullingham, the FA’s chief executive, and in the short term, the role of FA President is in the experienced hands of Peter McCormick.
The new interim president, a lawyer, has been on the FA Board since 2015 and was acting president of the Premier League for 15 months after Anthony Fry’s sudden illness.
McCormick chairs courts and appeals for the Premier League, FA and PGMOL, the body in charge of match referees, and received an OBE for his services to charities earlier this year.
But what is the FA’s long-term ambition for one of the most influential positions in the game?
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The FA Board, which includes EFL President Rick Parry, will identify and appoint “in due course.”
Actions will speak louder than any word in a stylish PowerPoint presentation.
In October, the FA launched its new Soccer Leadership Diversity Code “to drive diversity and inclusion in English soccer.”
In the words of the FA itself, “the goal is to move away from recruitment practices focused on personal networks.”
From Bert Millichip in 1981, Keith Wiseman, Geoff Thompson, Lord Triesman, David Bernstein, Greg Dyke, and Greg Clarke, the position of FA president has traditionally been held by middle-aged white men.
By the end of 2020, is this an unexpected opportunity to make a more diverse and inclusive appointment to a position of power and authority?
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The FA Diversity Code says that hiring “will be based on merit, to find the best person for the job among various talent channels.”
A key question: Will Clarke’s top job shortlist reflect and represent society at large?
Kick It Out: Clarke’s resignation is ‘the only possible outcome’
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Kick It Out President Sanjay Bhandari felt Clarke’s comments had been “amazing” and welcomed the swift action taken by the FA.
He said Sky Sports News: “We’re not just talking about anyone here, we’re talking about the leader of our national game on a really important strategic issue for the FA, which is pushing for greater diversity and inclusion, making everyone feel like they belong in the game.
“It was about archaic attitudes that were really revealed in comment after comment – a well-informed president or CEO would know exactly how to navigate that.
“It’s not like it’s the first time, there have been previous incidents, like referring to institutional racism as ‘fluff.’
“What it shows is that there is an underlying attitude that is really not the right attitude to lead the English game.”
Mings: It’s not a shame to admit that we have a long way to go.
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Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings was asked to comment on reports that Clarke was going to resign, which was later confirmed by the FA, while speaking at a press conference in England.
The defender said: “I will reiterate my point that we still have a very, very long way to go, and there is no shame in that.
“It is not shameful to know that we can all improve, it is not shameful to know that we all have to have uncomfortable conversations, because although it does not affect large proportions of society or the community, it does affect some segments of it.
“Soccer is such a diverse community that we have to be aware of what is appropriate for others and we have to be careful and aware of the terminology we use.
“I won’t comment much on that, but I’m sure there will be other people across the country who will be angry as well.”
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