The English Football League (EFL) has announced the launch of its new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.
Entitled ‘Together’, the strategy sets out a clear, five-year vision for the EFL and its clubs to represent the communities they serve. The new strategy will unite all aspects of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) across the season. EFL Clubs’ kits will also display the Together sleeve badge throughout the campaign.
“While football has made strides, it continues to face challenges that are reflected across society. With over 20 million attending EFL matches each season and millions more watching around the world, the League will use its platform to challenge unwelcome behaviours and promote inclusive practices, to help drive change on the pitch, in Club offices, in the stands and within the communities which Clubs call home,” stated David McArdle, the EFL’s Head of EDI. “Our aim is to provide everyone the same opportunity to succeed across the EFL. But we cannot do it alone. So we look forward to working collaboratively with Clubs and equality partners to improve our game, together.”
TOGETHER STRATEGY OBJECTIVES
Core to the Together strategy is the need to work collaboratively and a desire to provide everyone with the same opportunity to succeed. It also serves as a reminder that while some progress has been made, there is still much to do to enact positive change across the country.
Objectives of the strategy include:
- Ensuring the workforce is representative and reflective of the communities EFL Clubs represent
- improving the diversity of supporters attending EFL matches.
- Challenging discrimination and behaviour both in the stands and social media.
- Establishing a path for continual EDI developments for Clubs.
- Improving the understanding of EDI across the game.
LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD
“We’re trying to create change. There’s no point this strategy being in place if we’re not going to make a change. We need to make sure we are doing the things now, so we are ready to make the next step,” added McArdle.
“We need to represent the communities we serve because it can galvanise people,” highlighted Monique Choudhuri, Board Member at Women in Football. “EDI needs to level-up the playing field and make sure people are represented at all levels of football; on and off the pitch.”
UNITING COMMUNITIES
Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of Kick It Out, spoke of the power football has to bring people together. “The point of this kind of strategy is how do we provide support for organisations in our community to achieve their ambitions? Let’s focus on the things that unite us. Nothing connects people like football connects people,” he shared.
Simone Pound, Director of EDI at the Professional Footballers Association, agreed. “We’ve all seen players asking for change that is needed. It’s timely the EFL has a strategy to display to its clubs how they can become more inclusive,” he added.
You can check out the EFL’s full ‘Together’ strategy here.
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