How can you increase diversity in English football management without a ‘Rooney Rule’? = #23

The lack of representation of ethic minorities at coaching and management levels in English football has been widely discussed in the media over recents weeks and months. The debate on how to improve representation of minorities in football has largely been framed around the adoption of something akin to the NFL’s ‘Rooney Rule’. However, whilst it is positive that this is hitting the headlines and raising awareness of the issue much of the debate has overlooked legal practicalities of applying such a rule to English football. There has also been a lack of progressive discussion about what action can be taken now to improve the situation.

In this podcast Sean Cottrell, CEO of LawInSport, interviews Elaine Banton, a barrister specialist in employment discrimination and sports law at 7 Bedford Row Chambers, and Troy Townsend, Education and Development Manager at the organisation Kick It Out, to get their views on whether a something like ‘Rooney Rule’ could legally be adopted in English football and what steps can be take now to improve the representation of minority groups at coaching, management and board room level in football.

We welcome comments, suggestions and feedback. You can reach contact us on Twitter at @LawInSport and @SeanLawInSport.

For more expert commentary and analysis go to www.lawinsport.com or for specifics information regarding the 'Rooney Rule' see http://www.lawinsport.com/articles/regulation-a-governance/item/fighting-discrimination-in-sport-positive-action-v-rooney-rule and http://www.lawinsport.com/blog/squire-patton-boggs/item/how-can-we-best-promote-racial-diversity-in-u-k-football-management.