Merky FC - Diverse Representation in Football
Discussion
Source: Rapper launches Merky FC to fight racial inequality in football (Sky Sports).
"Stormzy and adidas have announced a partnership with 10 brands, including Sky Sports, to come together on a multi-year initiative, Merky FC - a programme committed to enhancing and protecting diverse representation in the football industry"
I'm not against this idea, but it does confuse. Where is the issue? If there are no managers with a good enough CV, they're not considered for the role. When does skin colour or ethnic background come into consideration? I look at the picture of Stormzy and his team above and the immediate question is: what about Asians; the Chinese, Indian representation? How about Arabs? Why is Merky FC all about Afro/Caribbean people?
The topic was discussed on Talksport recently and Simon Jordan rattled off some stats which asked the question, where are these black managers expected to come from when the big teams in African nations employ people from outside their country? Then there are the population figures in the UK. The percentage of ethnic minority groups in the UK are still in single figures; wouldn't that have a bearing on matters? Also, globally speaking, if there was a black manager to manage an EPL/PL team, who? Who has a CV that would have the chairman of a club licking his lips?
Hopefully someone will furnish me with the missing link, but I do struggle with the the topic of discrimination and inequality (I have an 'ethnic' father and a mother of Scottish descent). Growing up through the seventies, yes, I witnessed racism and remember well the days of the NF and Skinheads. One of my all time greats in terms of their career and personality is Ian Wright. He seems to be doing alright out of life after football and I'm sure if he had a desire to coach or manage he would have gravitated towards coaching, just like Les Ferdinand, Paul Ince, et al. History shows that black managers are underrepresented, but then so are other ethnic groups; granted there haven't been many Asian professional players, but broadly speaking, the continents have been represented over the years.
Struggling to make sense of this drive to address diversity. What did taking the knee do for the time everyone was taking it before kickoff? Every year there's a new campaign, a different drive to 'kick it out'. Now this. I'd like to think someone was employed because they met the criteria the club were looking for; conversely, if a manager wasn't getting the results the club wanted, he gets the tin tack for those reasons. You can't keep him on (or employ him) to satisfy and fulfill quotas.
I stumbled on a quote from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when asked if he had any added responsibilities as a black manager:
"No responsibility whatsoever. I'm a big believer that I got this job because I did well at my previous club and that I am the right man for it – that's why the club has given me the opportunity. I am black, that's not going to change. I am proud to be black and that's also not going to change. That’s how it is"
Shortly after, Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite revealed that he had rejected Hasselbaink for the vacant managerial position at his club in 2014, out of fear that racist elements of their support would abuse him. Could this be indicative of a deeper routed problem?
"Stormzy and adidas have announced a partnership with 10 brands, including Sky Sports, to come together on a multi-year initiative, Merky FC - a programme committed to enhancing and protecting diverse representation in the football industry"
I'm not against this idea, but it does confuse. Where is the issue? If there are no managers with a good enough CV, they're not considered for the role. When does skin colour or ethnic background come into consideration? I look at the picture of Stormzy and his team above and the immediate question is: what about Asians; the Chinese, Indian representation? How about Arabs? Why is Merky FC all about Afro/Caribbean people?
The topic was discussed on Talksport recently and Simon Jordan rattled off some stats which asked the question, where are these black managers expected to come from when the big teams in African nations employ people from outside their country? Then there are the population figures in the UK. The percentage of ethnic minority groups in the UK are still in single figures; wouldn't that have a bearing on matters? Also, globally speaking, if there was a black manager to manage an EPL/PL team, who? Who has a CV that would have the chairman of a club licking his lips?
Hopefully someone will furnish me with the missing link, but I do struggle with the the topic of discrimination and inequality (I have an 'ethnic' father and a mother of Scottish descent). Growing up through the seventies, yes, I witnessed racism and remember well the days of the NF and Skinheads. One of my all time greats in terms of their career and personality is Ian Wright. He seems to be doing alright out of life after football and I'm sure if he had a desire to coach or manage he would have gravitated towards coaching, just like Les Ferdinand, Paul Ince, et al. History shows that black managers are underrepresented, but then so are other ethnic groups; granted there haven't been many Asian professional players, but broadly speaking, the continents have been represented over the years.
Struggling to make sense of this drive to address diversity. What did taking the knee do for the time everyone was taking it before kickoff? Every year there's a new campaign, a different drive to 'kick it out'. Now this. I'd like to think someone was employed because they met the criteria the club were looking for; conversely, if a manager wasn't getting the results the club wanted, he gets the tin tack for those reasons. You can't keep him on (or employ him) to satisfy and fulfill quotas.
I stumbled on a quote from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when asked if he had any added responsibilities as a black manager:
"No responsibility whatsoever. I'm a big believer that I got this job because I did well at my previous club and that I am the right man for it – that's why the club has given me the opportunity. I am black, that's not going to change. I am proud to be black and that's also not going to change. That’s how it is"
Shortly after, Port Vale chairman Norman Smurthwaite revealed that he had rejected Hasselbaink for the vacant managerial position at his club in 2014, out of fear that racist elements of their support would abuse him. Could this be indicative of a deeper routed problem?
Sadly we live in a country in which, if there isn't a percentage of each race/ethnicity/sex present in a job/role that more or less matches the percentage present in the general population ... it's racism! It really is that simple! How could anyone disagree with such a proposition. Divisive? Unfair? Idiotic? No... don't be racist!
One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
Ntv said:
Sadly we live in a country in which, if there isn't a percentage of each race/ethnicity/sex present in a job/role that more or less matches the percentage present in the general population ... it's racism! It really is that simple! How could anyone disagree with such a proposition. Divisive? Unfair? Idiotic? No... don't be racist!
One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
Having played sport, I think it should always be merit based.One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
andyA700 said:
Ntv said:
Sadly we live in a country in which, if there isn't a percentage of each race/ethnicity/sex present in a job/role that more or less matches the percentage present in the general population ... it's racism! It really is that simple! How could anyone disagree with such a proposition. Divisive? Unfair? Idiotic? No... don't be racist!
One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
Having played sport, I think it should always be merit based.One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
I guess the question then is why should sport be merit based but other things not merit based?
Ntv said:
andyA700 said:
Ntv said:
Sadly we live in a country in which, if there isn't a percentage of each race/ethnicity/sex present in a job/role that more or less matches the percentage present in the general population ... it's racism! It really is that simple! How could anyone disagree with such a proposition. Divisive? Unfair? Idiotic? No... don't be racist!
One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
Having played sport, I think it should always be merit based.One thing that confuses me is why black players are so hugely overrepresented in club and international football. Surely they should only have max 1 player in each team, in line with their population share?
I guess the question then is why should sport be merit based but other things not merit based?
Is this not the cause that they feel that these kids aren’t even getting the opportunities to show they can do the roles. Not even being able to get the foot in the door? Think of it more like an apprenticeship.
Fair play to him, putting money where his mouth is and giving kids a chance to give themselves a better life.
Fair play to him, putting money where his mouth is and giving kids a chance to give themselves a better life.
Challo said:
Is this not the cause that they feel that these kids aren’t even getting the opportunities to show they can do the roles. Not even being able to get the foot in the door? Think of it more like an apprenticeship.
Fair play to him, putting money where his mouth is and giving kids a chance to give themselves a better life.
I totally agree with what he is doing at grass roots level, but at elite level there is no room for positive dicrimination.Fair play to him, putting money where his mouth is and giving kids a chance to give themselves a better life.
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