CHELSEA MANAGER JOSE Mourinho claimed on Friday that there is “no racism in football” after being asked to comment on the relative paucity of black managers in the English game.
Gordon Taylor, chief executive of players’ union the Professional Footballers’ Association, believes there is “hidden racism” in English football and has called for the introduction of something akin to the ‘Rooney Rule’.
Used in American football, the Rooney Rule guarantees that ethnic minority candidates appear on shortlists for high-profile coaching positions, but Mourinho believes it is not necessary in English football.
“There is no racism in football,” Mourinho told a press conference ahead of his side’s Premier League clash with Arsenal on Sunday. “If you are good, you are good. If you are good, you get the job.
“If you are good, you prove that you deserve the job. Football is not stupid to close the doors to top people. If you are top, you are top.”
Only two of the managers currently in charge of the 92 clubs in England’s top four divisions are black: Huddersfield Town’s Chris Powell and Keith Curle of Carlisle United.
