As part of my 12 week internship at Pulse Social, part of my job was to write and produce blog posts surrounding different topics within sports. This particular blog post is a feature piece with Mohammed Haroon, CEO of Greater Manchester Football Club on diversity in sports.
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Diversity is not exactly a new issue within the world of sports.
According to sports organisation Sport England in a 2018/19 survey on diversity within Sport Governance, an average of 40% of women, 5% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) individuals, 5% of disabled individuals and 3-4% of LGBT+ individuals now make up the board members across Sport England and other UK Sport-funded bodies.
Such statistics are similarly reflected in regards to individuals who participate in sports, with even more worrying statistics surrounding racism and gender inequality, for example with the Guardian in a 2020 news article reporting on how leading charity organisation Sporting Equals found 83% of BAME competitors had faced racism in British sports.
This week, I spoke to Mohammed Haroon, the CEO of Greater Manchester Football Club, which is an inclusive football club in the North West of England, on the barriers that prevent individuals from participating in sports and what we can do about it.
Mohammed first said how, at Greater Manchester Football Club, they are all about breaking down barriers and how they want to create an inclusive environment.
“We understand that the barriers preventing individuals from BAME, LGBT+, Women and many others from getting involved in sports are both internal and external and both must be dealt with in a proactive manner,” Mohammed said.
“The external barriers such as racism, sexism, prejudices, etc, are well known and there is not enough work being done to overcome them, so it is important that things like the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements are given the support they need.”
“There are strides being made for inclusivity but the steps being taken are small ones, which at this rate mean little effect will be felt on the bigger stage, but at least they are positive steps, so we have to build on this and do so much more.”
However, Mohammed highlighted how it is the internal factors that are much less spoken about. He explained how if we are to create a platform of inclusivity, then we first have to understand and communicate with those individuals who have been excluded and the mental impact it has had on them.
“Has it caused a lack of confidence? Has it made the individual become more Introvert than before? has it created a sense of distrust?” Mohammed asked. “These are things that aren't talked about.”
“Just because a team or an organisation creates a level playing field that doesn't automatically mean that individuals will happily join. We have to first communicate with them on a personal level and help to build the bridges of trust and communication.”
Moving forwards, to improve and increase more participation from these groups, Mohammed explained how clubs, organisations and institutions have to be prepared to understand the impact that years of neglect and exclusion has had on these individuals on a personal level as well as communities as a whole.
“Policies and strategies have to be put in place that address these issues and having something as simple as a mental health co-ordinator at these clubs, or at least having someone they can consult with, will go a long way, which is something we are proud to say we have done from day one.”
“Imagine discrimination was a biological issue. If we had someone who had suffered from years of exclusion which led to a series of physical illnesses such as malnutrition etc. How would we deal with it?” Mohammed said.
“Would you simply put on a buffet lunch and assume the problem has been dealt with? No of course not. You'd start them slow, do blood tests, see what the main issues were and take a strategic approach to their health.”
“Discrimination has a similarly damaging effect on the psychological well-being of individuals and so we have to stop taking a blanket approach to this and learn to make it personal and functional.”
Most importantly, Mohammed emphasised that the reason for doing this is that the current processes simply cannot continue.
“We have a responsibility to create a society in which anyone, of any race, gender, orientation, religion or any other factor, anyone, can be the best that they can be without fear of discrimination or prejudice,” Mohammed said. “I am very proud that in whatever small way, GMFC is able to play a part in this.”
To read the article at Pulse Social, click the link here: https://pulsesocial.co.uk/blogs/f/diversity-or-lack-thereof-in-grassroots-sports