Chairman of football's equality body Kick It Out Lord Ouseley has reportedly issued a forceful challenge to those running the sport and said that if the 'white male' dominance is tackled seriously it would give up some space to allow women participation.
In light of the Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore sexist emails, for which he would attend a meeting of the committee that would decide his fate on Monday, Ouseley said that in effect and in reality the top of the football pyramid is still a 'bastion' of white male dominance.
According to The Guardian, Ouseley said that the top of football pyramid faces the challenge to change which, if tackled seriously, would mean giving up some space to allow the participation of women, black, Asian and disabled people as equals within its decision-making structures and as employees at all levels.
He further said that some in leadership positions are trying to move policies and practices forward positively but progress, while notable and helpful, remains painfully slow.
Ouseley also added that with a handful of exceptions the idea of seriously tackling inequality in the game had become a "no-go area" for many within football.Ouseley said that many leaders in football hold the view that there is no longer a race or discrimination problem and it is time for Kick It Out to pack its bags and move on.
Ouseley added that wearing the T-shirts, pinning on the badges and waving the banners once a year during the weeks of action is regarded as sufficient demonstration of the top football leaders' commitment to equality and diversity and that going beyond that is regarded as unnecessary and unjustified and has become a no-go area of activity for many.