Football Association chairman Greg Clarke has resigned following a series of controversial comments he made at a committee hearing in front of a group of MPs yesterday.
The 63-year-old used the phrase ‘coloured footballers’ to describe black Asian and minority ethnic people. Clarke appeared in front of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport select committee to discuss his involvement in the controversial Project Restart which launched in June following a three-month suspension of the Premier League as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“My unacceptable words in front of parliament were a disservice to our game and to those who watch, play, referee and administer it,” said Clarke yesterday’s evening. This has crystallised my resolve to move on.
“I am deeply saddened that I have offended those diverse communities in football that I and others worked so hard to include.”
“I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the game for the wisdom and counsel they have shared over the years and resign from the FA with immediate effect.”
The FA said in a statement: “Peter McCormick will step into the role as interim FA chairman with immediate effect and the FA Board will begin the process of identifying and appointing a new chair in due course.”
Clarke had also been answering a question around the difficulty of homosexual players in the men’s game coming out because of social media backlash.
When Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee member Kevin Brennan pointed out the word he had used he asked Clarke if he would like to withdraw it, Clarke said: “If I said it I deeply apologise.
“I am a product of working overseas, where I was required to use the phrase people of colour. Sometimes I trip over my words.”
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