Friday 27 March 2015 17:47, UK
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke believes there is some truth in Les Ferdinand's claims that covert racism exists in football.
Ferdinand, QPR's director of football, feels covert racism is the reason why there are so few managers from ethnic backgrounds in the English game.
The former England striker claims some club owners and chairmen are being racist - even though they don't realise it - and he has called for a Rooney Rule-style law to be implemented into the game.
Ferdinand reopened the debate by insisting it could be the best way to give prospective black managers the confidence to aspire to positions they currently feel are beyond them.
"I think there is probably covert racism in parts of our society and therefore it would be surprising if it was not in football," Dyke told Sky Sports News HQ. "I don't think people are blatantly racist but I still think there are views and I think that we've got to change those.
"We've got a group looking at precisely what they think the best things are to do, but one of the things that is coming out is the announcement that we are going to have bursaries so that we can help fund people to go on through coaching.
"Those bursaries would disproportionately be used to help people from minority communities who can't afford to get through because in any area where you say 'there are not enough people from those communities compared to the population at large', it seems to me we should try and do something.
I don't think people are blatantly racist but I still think there are views and I think that we've got to change those.
Proposed changes
Dyke also remains hopeful he will not have to force Premier League clubs to accept his proposed changes to 'home-grown' talent rules.
The FA boss wants to increase the minimum number of home-grown players in a squad from eight to 12 as part of the push to get more English talent playing in the top flight.
"This is not something we want to enforce," said Dyke. "What we would like is to have a discussion with the clubs, with the leagues, 'these are our ideas, these are their ideas,' it's exactly what we did on overseas players outside of Europe and we came up with a solution which will reduce the numbers - that's what we would like to do on this."
And Dyke remains hopeful that clubs will accept his proposal, adding: "We'll see what happens there when we come to it. I happen to believe we will come to some agreement."
