Players and managers

The support of players and managers is crucial to the success of Kick It Out.

With millions of football fans across the world looking up to the example set by their heroes, their words and actions can have a profound impact in promoting messages central to the campaign.

Historically, pioneering figures such as Viv Anderson, Cyrille Regis, Luther Blissett, Ian Wright, John Barnes, Eric Cantona and Sir Alex Ferguson have given their backing to Kick It Out, and this has been carried on by their current counterparts.

With the help of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and the League Managers Association (LMA), players and managers  endorse the organisation all-year round by attending coaching masterclasses, educational workshops, prison forums, award ceremonies and panel discussions.

The messages they convey have a very real and usually instant impact, particularly in school and community settings. Being given the opportunity to meet ambassadors is often a unique experience for young people and an informative and enlightening one for older groups.

There have been particular challenges which have arisen, with individual players more recently showing their discontent at what they believe to be a lack of progress in tackling racism and all forms of discrimination.

These concerns have always been listened to, respected and acknowledged, and Kick It Out has taken positive steps towards addressing this by employing former Charlton Athletic midfielder Paul Mortimer as the campaign’s Professional Player Engagement Manager.

Helping to educate the future generation of professional footballers on issues including stereotyping and prejudiced attitudes within the game is a key element of the Kick It Out’s remit.

Working in conjunction with the League Football Education (LFE), Kick It Out delivers equality and diversity training workshops to English Football League (EFL) scholars across the country.

To help reinforce these messages, the campaign launched its ‘Next 20’ initiative in October 2013. The programme aims to champion 20 young football stars across the Premier League, Football League and Women’s Super League (WSL).

One topic concerning managers which has caused a stir is the potential creation of an English football equivalent of the Rooney Rule, instilled in America’s National Football League (NFL) to address the lack of ethnic minority presence in coaching and management positions.

Kick It Out continues to encourage debate around this area and has taken part in numerous live forums and television and radio programmes which look into the introduction of such a system.

In June 2016, EFL clubs voted in changes to their recruitment practices to address the under-representation of qualified Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) coaches at Academy and first-team club level. Click here for the organisation’s statement on the matter.

"I believe that England has shown the right direction and the right way by not tolerating discrimination and has done much more than any other country"
Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager
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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman