Arsenal statement: We acknowledge our current womens first-team squad does not reflect the diversity that exists across the club and the communities we represent. Increasing participation among young women and girls from diverse backgrounds is a key priority for us
This is an issue in women’s football in England more generally. Looking at the percentage of the men’s and women’s England football teams that are black or mixed race, there’s a stark difference. Black girls clearly aren’t getting the same opportunities at youth and grass roots levels as black boys, and the barriers that girls face getting into football obviously disproportionately affect working class girls and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds. It’ll take time to change it, but it will pay dividends in the long term.
This country also needs to shed a lot of its prejudices about other ethnic minority groups in football, particularly South Asian people.
This is an issue in women’s football in England more generally. Looking at the percentage of the men’s and women’s England football teams that are black or mixed race, there’s a stark difference. Black girls clearly aren’t getting the same opportunities at youth and grass roots levels as black boys, and the barriers that girls face getting into football obviously disproportionately affect working class girls and girls from ethnic minority backgrounds. It’ll take time to change it, but it will pay dividends in the long term.
This country also needs to shed a lot of its prejudices about other ethnic minority groups in football, particularly South Asian people.