Support needed for better football

Kick It Out, a London based anti-racism organisation called for more economic backing and support from the society to help them promote their campaigns against discrimination in grassroots football.

Kevin Coleman, Grassroots Development Officer and spokesman from the organisation introduced the prevalent discrimination problem and the future development of grassroots football early this morning in a press conference held in the University of Westminster.

“Our group has managed to carry out specified and diverse activities for local communities for the past years.” Said Mr. Coleman. The organisation’s 2010 event – which is called “One Game One Community Week of Action”, is taking place nationwide and claimed to be the biggest one yet. The event which would end tomorrow included 1,000 activities from park pitches to the Premier League; and according to Mr. Coleman, the week of action is considered “sport’s largest equality and community engagement initiative” till now.

Yet, Mr. Coleman has expressed concern about their financial difficulties as well. Given the fact that the Football Association, the Professional Footballers’ Association and the FA Premier League fund the organisation, it is crucial that the group gets sufficient funds beforehand. However, the FA has reduced financial assistance in the past two years due to the worldwide economic downfall, which takes up the largest proportion of the funds. This has lead direct influences onto the group. Along with drastic cuts in sports funding following the government’s comprehensive spending review, schools and grassroots communities would face a lack of funds as well. Kick It Out’s role to campaign over all kinds of football discrimination and to encourage the diversity of the sport would definitely be held back from this.

The 1997 founded charity group works through the football, education and community sectors to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and work for positive change.