FA being held back by "elderly white men" errm racist, sexist, ageist?

2 of 2

blueblade

12-12-2016

Originally Posted by Alrightmate:
“I don't think it is fine. Because although I believe that all careers should be open to everyone, they are implying here that this is a career which is closed to anyone who is non-white and not old. They should be providing actual evidence that this career is closed off to non-white young people before they identity it is a problem.
It's the idea that they are are stating this as fact which isn't even being questioned. The people in the FA who they are talking about are being presented as guilty before they are judged to be innocent....because of their age and their skin colour.

I also don't believe that these critics believe in diversity at all. Not really. They insist that everybody thinks like them. That's not diversity.
They're not even the champions of equality they think they are either, because they're treating people differently based on their age, skin colour, and gender.

All that should really matter is that if a younger non-white woman applied for a job within the FA then they are treated in the application process like any other applicant based on their skills and abilities. Not on what colour, age and gender they are.”

Fair points which I can't dispute.

human nature

12-12-2016

For a more detailed breakdown here's how the BBC are reporting the situation:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38274152

It seems the main argument is that the FA is "stuck in the 1950s" and "bears no resemblance to Britain today". The five former Chairman (who openly admit they are elderly white men themselves") say they tried to modernise the FA for decades, but their suggestions were always blocked by the board.

There are 122 people on the FA council. 104 of them are over 60 (12 of those are over 80). Eight of them are women and four of them are from an ethnic background.

007Fusion

13-12-2016

Originally Posted by solarflare:
“Surely they've seen the irony in a bunch of elderly white men saying that the FA is being held back by a different group of elderly white men.”

I noticed and had to smirk at it.

But, I really do believe there is a something to the "under-qualified" allegation, because Football, while large in profile, is populated by a very small number of people and practically shut off to non-playing people (unless you're a chairman, investor, etc.). So, just how do these F.A Chairman get elected and possess the skill-set to operate in Football?

wns_195

13-12-2016

I don't care about the background of people who run organisations. It's their policies that matter. The policies currently being implemented by old white men wouldn't be any more or less acceptable if they were being implemented by young black women.

People even think making organisations user led solves policy problems. It doesn't, because there is more to people than their gender, age, race, etc.

The FA and other governing bodies should democratise so that all their board members are elected by all the people whose activities are subject to their regulations.

Madridista23

13-12-2016

"FA being held back by "elderly white men" errm racist, sexist, ageist? "

I suppose someone had to say it.......

Ben_Copland

13-12-2016

Na, they can say what they want about their own kind.

human nature

13-12-2016

Originally Posted by wns_195:
“I don't care about the background of people who run organisations. It's their policies that matter. The policies currently being implemented by old white men wouldn't be any more or less acceptable if they were being implemented by young black women.

People even think making organisations user led solves policy problems. It doesn't, because there is more to people than their gender, age, race, etc.

The FA and other governing bodies should democratise so that all their board members are elected by all the people whose activities are subject to their regulations.”

BIB - if the policies are going to be the same then of course it doesn't matter who implements them. The argument being made here is that the board is overwhelmingly out of date with today's world and that the FA is stuck in the 1950s and refusing to modernise.

If there was a broader membership of the council then we might see some different policies being put forward.

scottie2121

13-12-2016

No it's not any '....ist'. It's a reasonable description and ties in with how it operates.

Harvey_Specter

13-12-2016

Originally Posted by human nature:
“They don't "have an issue" with middle aged white men. What they're saying is that there's something wrong if the FA's board of management is made up entirely of middle aged white men at the exclusion of all other groups.

Where's the diversity? Why is there no one on the board to represent the interests of people outside that fairly narrow group?”

They know this, but it wouldn't make for such a fun opening post...

2 of 2