The English Football Association [The FA] has today launched the Football Leadership Diversity Code to drive diversity and inclusion across English football, with over 40 clubs across the Premier League, English Football League, Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship committing to tackle inequality across senior leadership positions, broader team operations and coaching roles.

The Football Leadership Diversity Code has been developed in collaboration with club executives, players, coaches, HR directors, media and leaders across the game to ensure English football better represents our modern and diverse society.

Recognising that clubs and support structures off the pitch do not reflect the increasing gender and ethnic diversity seen on the pitch, it will increase accountability and transparency and will see The FA, key stakeholders and clubs across the men’s and women’s game commit to embedding greater diversity across senior leadership teams, team operations and coaching setups.

The Code focuses on increasing equality of opportunity with hiring targets – rather than quotas – to encourage recruitment from across society. Hiring will be based on merit, to find the best person for the job from diverse talent pipelines. The aim is to move away from recruitment practices focused on personal networks, which is a longstanding challenge across football and has limited the diversity in leadership across the game.

It is viewed as a starting point towards greater diversity and, while focusing on gender and ethnicity now in reflection of the current player base, it will expand more broadly over time.

The Premier League and multiple clubs from across the Premier League, English Football League, Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship have committed to embedding the Code within its own practices. While not mandatory, The FA is encouraging all clubs across the men’s and women’s games to sign up to the voluntary Code, with a version following the same principles and adapted for the National League System and grassroots clubs to follow in Spring 2021.

Clubs that will adopt the Football Leadership Diversity Code as founding signatories are:

Arsenal
Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers
Bolton Wanderers
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford
Burnley
Burton Albion
Cambridge United
Chelsea
Coventry City
Coventry United
Crystal Palace
Derby County
Durham Women
England
Everton
Fleetwood Town
Fulham
Ipswich Town
Leeds United
Leicester City
Lewes
Lincoln City
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Norwich City
Nottingham Forest
Oxford United
Plymouth Argyle
Portsmouth
Queens Park Rangers
Sheffield United
Stoke City
Swansea City
Tottenham Hotspur
Watford
West Ham United
West Bromwich Albion
Wolverhampton Wanderers

Paul Elliott, Chair of The FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board, said: "Many clubs are already doing good work in this area and we have been pleased to see football stand together this year to challenge the injustice we are seeing in society.

However, positive and tangible action is required to drive change and take the next step. We believe the introduction of the Football Leadership Diversity Code will signal a long-term change for the English game. The number and stature of clubs that have already agreed to join us on this journey prove that together, with clear goals, transparency and a desire for action, we can shape a better future together. We hope more clubs join us as we move forward."

By signing up to the Football Leadership Diversity Code, clubs pledge to create an equality, diversity and inclusion plan which applies hiring targets while adopting specific recruitment principles. The targets, which will become effective immediately, include:

SENIOR 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: MEN’S PROFESSIONAL CLUBS
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: WOMEN’S PROFESSIONAL CLUBS
50% of new hires will be female
15% of new hires will be Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage

RECRUITMENT
Shortlists for an interview will have at least one male and one female Black, Asian or of Mixed-Heritage candidate if applicants meeting the job specifications apply.

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s Chief Executive Officer, added: "I would like to thank the players, coaches, HR Directors, media and league and club officials from across football who have contributed to the development of the Code. Together we have created commitments that will drive real change across the game. The Code will hold clubs, leagues and our own organisation to account and ensure opportunities for everyone to work at all levels in football.  We remain deeply committed to doing everything we can to address inequality in all its forms and to deliver a game free from discrimination. Today is a really positive step forward."