Why English football DOES need a Rooney Rule

By Ian Holloway

Published 23:30 10/09/11

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Any initiative that tackles racism will have my total support.

That’s why I am right behind the PFA’s ­attempt to import the so-called Rooney Rule into English football.

It was the paucity of black coaches in ­America’s NFL that led to legislation framed by Pittsburg Steelers’ owner Dan Rooney to change the status quo.

Rooney Rule: Back our Open Goal campaign to encourage more ethnic minority managers in England  

It meant black ­candidates had to be interviewed for ­coaching roles – and now seven of 32 NFL coaches are black.

PFA chief Gordon Taylor (below) wants to do a similar thing here.

And if black people are being denied the chance of becoming a football boss due to the colour of their skin, we clearly have a problem that needs addressing.

I don’t care what ­colour you are or who you worship. This life is all about being a ­decent human being.

Sadly, not all share my point of view.

We are winning the battle against racism, but there is still work to do. You only had to hear how some of England’s black players were treated in Bulgaria to realise that.

But there isn’t a more multicultural nation than ours and we should be proud of that.

I’m an advocate of anything that makes this world better and if this new idea can help bring an end to the ­ignorance of any ­shallow people in ­football, I am all for it.

If Barack Obama can become US President at a time when the world seems in a constant state of crisis, a black man can certainly make a ­success of being a football manager.

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