Football: Racism

Debate between Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top and Baroness Barran

Tuesday 15th October 2019 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Barran]

I do not have a specific answer to my noble friend’s question, but I will inquire and write to her.

[Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Lab)]

My Lords, we have to be careful that we do not become too complacent. Those of us who continue to love football, who go to matches even when they are terrible, know that this is still an issue in this country. We have none the less the richest league in the world—the Premier League—and it could and should be doing far more, influencing what is going on internationally but also working not just through Premier League clubs but throughout the Football League, with grass-roots clubs that are struggling to survive and do not have the money for education and training programmes and so on. Is it not about time that the Government made it clear to groups such as the Premier League that they have a responsibility and cannot let us down by pushing it off?

[Baroness Barran]

The Government have made it very clear how strongly they feel about these issues. We believe that the football authorities should be in the lead in delivering on this, but there was a renewed commitment this morning from the Minister to make sure that that happens as quickly and effectively as possible.