THE FOUNDER of Operation Black Vote (OBV) has called on the government for greater action in regards to racism in football.
Lord Woolley of Woodford, the man behind campaign group OBV, said in the House of Lords recently: “The tackling of racism in the Premier League and the consistent racial disparity is moving painfully slow.
“For example one third of Premier League footballers are non-white, which in old money is black and yet we only have one black manager and that is the Wolves manager [Nuno Espírito Santo].
“One black manager. I am not sure if there are any assistant coaches of colour, chief executives or board members.
“Would the minister pledge to me, and others, to convene a meeting with the necessary actors, including the police, to encourage and where possible demand a comprehensive programme to tackle the scourge of racism and close the racial disparities?
“My Lords, the beautiful game must confront and deal with this ugly racism.
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I always thought OBV was patronising. How successful has it been? How many black people who wouldn’t otherwise have voted have voted because of OBV? Yet Woolley has been well rewarded and with mission creep is now called upon to comment on all kinds of things. This makes my point that OBV was not as it claimed simply about getting people to vote, but had a political agenda, fair enough, but why not admit this in the first place? Black people are free to vote or not as they wish, people do not need their hands held by OBV, and Woolley appears to be the winner in all of this, ironically no one ever voted for him to be there spokesperson. The Voice need to publish this comment, Woolley is no more (or less) entitled to his view as I am.