Football Association adopts ‘Rooney Rule’ as Martin Glenn outlines 2018 plans

Anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out has been critical of how the FA handled the Aluko affair, but described the new proposals as “a watershed moment”.

Kick It Out chair Lord Ouseley added: “I looked to the Football Association to give leadership on the matter of equality, inclusion and cohesion and I now expect those in positions of power across professional football, along with the FA, to drive forward the highest standards of activity in order to achieve these objectives which will benefit everyone who participates in the game.

“We look forward to working with the FA and the other authorities to bring about the changes necessary to make the game inclusive for all.”

Former Blackburn striker Jason Roberts, who is now development director for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, said a version of the ‘Rooney Rule’ was a “positive step even though it’s somewhat behind time”.

“This could have been done four or five years ago,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. He also said that the FA could take a lead in ensuring that it was implemented in the Premier League and EFL, which he said had not always followed correct procedure in the voluntary version it has adopted.

“The word voluntary worries me,” Roberts added. “I think it’s something [the FA] should do across the board and even take a role in ensuring the PL and EFL have this as a mandatory process as well.”