Bernstein Calls For Unity

The FA have urged all footballers to get behind the 'Kick It Out' campaign and warned of the dangers of forming a breakaway union.

This weekend a number of black players refused to wear 'Kick It Out' t-shirts before matches to demonstrate they believe the campaign is inadequate.

Reading striker Jason Roberts, who was one of those who took that stand, said: "Myself and a group of other players have been in detailed discussions with the PFA for some time. We suggested to them all along that this week could be an issue, because people didn't want to wear the t-shirt.

"People ask me what I'm looking for, and the answer is pretty simple. It needs a serious approach to representation with proper resources to do the job that is needed to take things forward.

"Kick It Out has done some substantial things, but as an organisation it is not seriously funded, and it should be. The equality department in the PFA needs to change and should have stronger leadership and more than just one or two staff. It doesn't have the resources or the manpower to tackle the job.

"These are the issues that I felt needed to be raised. Detailed discussions and recommendations have been tabled for a year now, across several meetings, without any progress being made."

His comments were echoed by Peter Herbert, chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, who has called for "more radical" steps and confirmed talks were at a preliminary stage to form a new group to help tackle racism in the sport.

He said: "The fact we are having this conversation (shows) the campaign has not achieved what it should have achieved. It's no criticism of what they've done, we work with them, we know the people involved but it needs to be taken to the next level.

"I think the incidents such as happened in Serbia - they need to rattle a few cages in the Serbian government and that is not going to be happening at the moment.

"UEFA has given a derisory fine for these incidents (in the past). Things like that...have got us to a place where we are aware that many black players and people in the industry are seriously unhappy and are quite angry and frustrated and disgusted by what is going on and there has to be a new way of doing things."

FA Chairman David Bernstein has defended the 'Kick It Out' campaign and warned that against a breakaway group within football would divide the cause.

Bernstein said: "Do I hope players will stay within Kick It Out? Yes I do. Fragmentation would be a shame, but at the same time we have to understand on moral issues people have to be able to make their own choices but I hope it doesn't lead to a fragmentation, in the interests of everybody."