Jamie Lawrence says football ‘is institutionally racist’
Written by News on 20/10/2017
Former Bradford winger Jamie Lawrence believes football in England is institutionally racist.
The Football Association’s handling of the discrimination claims made by Eni Aluko continues to attract criticism but Lawrence believes there is a much wider issue in the English game than discriminatory remarks made by Sampson on the grounds of race.
"Institutionally, it [football] is racist," Lawrence told Sky Sports News.
"Even in management and the players how many black people make it into management or coaching? What 0.5 per cent or less?
They [football’s authorities] are not in touch at boardroom level. There are 92 clubs in the country – how many black people do you get on the board?"
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport chair Damian Collins suggested four FA executives who faced the committee on Wednesday should consider resigning over the Mark Sampson affair.
FA chairman Greg Clarke, chief executive Martin Glenn, technical director Dan Ashworth and HR director Rachel Brace were the four representatives who were interrogated by 11 MPs on Wednesday.
But former Leicester and Sunderland player Lawrence is not convinced there will be any departures from the Football Association.
"Of course they [heads] have got to roll," Lawrence said.
"I don’t know if they are going to because as they tried to protect Sampson I think they are going to try to protect each other.
"They’re all protected. It’s an old pals act."
The FA "sincerely apologised" to Aluko and Chelsea Ladies team-mate Drew Spence ahead of Wednesday’s Parliamentary hearing. Lawrence praised the pair for speaking up about their treatment.
He said: "They deserve massive plaudits for coming out and standing up against the FA because at the end of the day they’ve had their careers ruined and hopefully they can help the players behind them stand up and be noticed as well."
(c) Sky News 2017: Jamie Lawrence says football ‘is institutionally racist’
