Vocal Voices

Lib Dems say all professional footballers should have to do diversity training

Earlier the Lib Dems backed a call to improve football governance. As the Press Association reports, delegates used the debate to attack the Football Association strongly.
The English Football Association (FA) has been heavily criticised for failing to tackle homophobia, racism and sexism, as the Liberal Democrats backed a major independent review of the game.
Homophobic chanting should be made a criminal offence in line with racist chants, the Lib Dems say, with gay and bisexual fans warning abuse continues to “plague” football.
Activists heard that stewards should be better trained to deal with homophobic chants while the chairman of a gay football team in Manchester told how it took seven months for the FA’s disciplinary process to punish those responsible for some of the worst homophobic and racist abuse they had experienced.
Football’s win at all costs mentality is also of concern due to the financial risks clubs are taking, the Lib Dems say.

The motion, called Reclaiming the People’s Game, proposed:

Mandatory diversity and equality training for all professional football players
Homophobic chanting to be made a criminal offence
All stewards to have training on equality and diversity issues
10% of all Premier League tickets to be available at an affordable price
A 5% tithe on Premier League TV revenues to fund the grassroots and lower leagues

The motion also included the line that “winning has become the primary motive in the sport” - which led critics to accuse the Lib Dems of missing the point.

Winning has become the primary motive in the sport ..

What is your problem, eh?
Each game starts as a nil - nil draw. It is the duty of the referee and his or her assistants to ensure that a draw is a result at the final whistle.