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No BAME coaches in England’s World Cup squad, but is Rooney Rule the answer?
With no black or ethnic minority coaches in England’s World Cup squad, a Leeds Beckett academic has examined if the Rooney Rule is the best way to combat the lack of diversity in football’s backroom staff.
Dr Dan Kilvington, who has been researching BAME representation in football for over 10 years, asked BAME football coaches across the country if they thought the Rooney Rule – as adopted by America’s NFL in 2003 – was the best way to increase diversity.
The Rooney Rule states that at least one black or minority ethnic job candidate should be shortlisted for coaching jobs (where a BAME application has been submitted).
Dr Kilvington, Senior Lecturer in the School of Cultural Studies and Humanities, said: “11 out of 23 of the England players in the Russia World Cup squad are from a BAME background.