Sol Campbell calls for openness and transparency to boost diversity in sport
Friday 13 May 2016 06:07, UK
Former England defender Sol Campbell says diversity in sport can be boosted with increased openness and a system that is transparent.
A lack of Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches in football has been questioned by many critics with the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association Gordon Taylor suggesting there has been a "hidden resistance" to their appointment.
Last summer, Football League clubs voted unanimously in favour of recommendations to introduce open and transparent recruitment measures, including making it compulsory for clubs to interview at least one BAME candidate for all youth development roles requiring a minimum of a UEFA B coaching licence.
Campbell, speaking on Thursday at a Sporting Equals event at the House of Commons to promote greater involvement in sport within disadvantaged communities, thinks talking about diversity is the way forward.
"The system has to be transparent and opened up." the 41-year-old former Tottenham and Arsenal centre-half told Sky Sports News HQ.
"There's nothing wrong to be opened up and talking to someone you've never spoken to before and looking at your own background and thinking that your own mindset should break that down and thinking 'why am I always choosing one type of person.
"It's all about opening up and allowing the colour to be washed away and people picking the people or managers who are good at their job and give people opportunities."
Chris Ramsey and Chris Powell revealed their delight in February with the Football League's recommendations that look set to see the implementation of a variation of the Rooney Rule in English football.
Named after Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney, the Rooney Rule was adopted in the National Football League in the United States in 2003.
This requires all NFL teams to interview at least one (BAME) candidate once a head coaching vacancy becomes available.
