Aston Villa and England star Tyrone Mings has thrown his support behind the Football Association’s new Football Leadership Diversity Code after more than 40 clubs across the Premier League, EFL, FAWSL and the Women’s Championship committed themselves to principles that have been put forward to ensure there is a fairer representation of society in football.
Tyrone Mings said “Proud to be able to contribute my voice to this conversation,” Mings said. “It’s a step in the right direction to tackling inequality in our game. Still a lot more to be done but great to finally see actions being put in place. This represents accountability and progress.”
In full, the principles that have been put forward and agreed to by Villa, West Brom, Wolves and a number of other clubs, are…
Leadership and team operations
15% of new hires will be Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage [or a target set by the club based on local demographics]
30% of new hires will be female
Coaching the men’s game
25% of new hires will be Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage
10% of new senior coaching hires will be Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage
Coaching in the women’s game
50% of new hires will be female
15% of new hires will be Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage
Recruitment
Shortlists for interview will have at least one male and one female Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage candidate, if applicants meeting the job specifications apply.
Mings, while on international duty in Bulgaria last year, suffered appalling racial abuse from a section of home supporters and he has been a player who is particularly vocal on how the game can deal with such offences. The centre half has revealed that he has played a part in the FA’s newly drawn up code by discussing its targets and how they might be applied and reached across English football.