DEI/SPAIN HAD MORE COLOUR

England Lionesses team 'looks blonde, blue-eyed' and lacks diversity, says TV commentator

Ellen Manning
Mon, 21 August 2023

England's Lionesses were beaten in the final by Spain. (Getty Images)

An entrepreneur has commented on the ethnic make-up of the England's Lionesses squad - who narrowly missed out on World Cup victory on Sunday - commenting that it "isn't that diverse".

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE's comments came ahead of the Women's World Cup final, which saw England lose 1-0 to Spain.

Despite the defeat, the Lionesses have been praised for inspiring millions and doing "fantastic" work to promote the women's game.


The Prince of Wales, who faced criticism ahead of the game for not attending in person, tweeted a personal message to the squad after the match saying their “spirit and drive have inspired so many people".

Read more: England v Spain: Women's World Cup Final in pictures

Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE has been criticised for his comments. (Alamy)

Speaking on Sky News ahead of the match, Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE - who describes himself as food industry diversity advocate The Black Farmer - said the women's squad lacked diversity, describing them as "blonde, blue-eyed".

During a discussion of the newspaper front pages, he said: "I don't want to pour boiling water on it but it isn't that diverse".

"It really sticks out at you. They look blonde, blue-eyed. If it was the men's World Cup it would be very representative of the Britain that we're in and very, very diverse."

He went on: "I'm going to be watching it and I'm going to be supporting it and I don't want to be seen as pouring cold water on but there is something we need to look at."

Read more: England coach Sarina Wiegman aims for 'new moments' with defeated Lionesses

An FA spokesperson said: "We have publicly committed to improving the diversity within our England pathway but also within the wider game as a whole.

"That includes working with government so every girl can have the chance to play in school. We have also completely restructured our talent pathway so more young girls from all backgrounds can find a local place to play and we are then ensuring it is possible for the very best talent to be identified.

"Of course, while progress is being made, there is always more to do."

Questions have been asked previously about how to improve diversity within the Lionesses squad. (Getty)

The issue of diversity in the Lionesses has been raised previously, with key figures saying work is underway, but change will be gradual.

In the Euro 2022 tournament, the BBC received 222 complaints after a report from Alex Scott looked into diversity in women's football.

The presenter’s investigation was aired during half-time of the Denmark vs Finland match in the tournament, with broadcaster Eilidh Barbour saying that England’s all-white Lionesses highlighted a lack of diversity in the sport.

She commented that all starting 11 players and five substitutes who came on to the pitch were white, saying: "that does point towards a lack of diversity in the women’s game in England".

Read more: Girls' football now so popular clubs 'can't form teams fast enough'

Commenting on suggestions that professional women’s football in England remains a middle-class sport in February this year, England manager Sarina Wiegman said: "You’re not going to change things overnight.

"Over the last weeks the FA and Kay Cossington [the FA’s women’s technical director] launched an improved pathway, which is really about performance, but also inclusivity, diversity and accessibility.

“Hopefully in the future, and I don’t know how long it will take, we will get very, very good players we can start with, but also [players] that represents more the diversity of our community."

The issue re-emerged as the Lionesses squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia came under scrutiny, with some pointing out that only two of the 23-player squad are black.

Again, Wiegman said change was underway but would not happen "overnight".

Jess Carter, one of two Black players in the World Cup squad along with Lauren James, has also previously addressed the lack of diversity in the elite squad.

“I think it comes from the same place. It’s about recognising what the demographic in whatever area needs. With equal access will come more diversity in the sport," she told Vogue.

Opinion

England's World Cup Lionesses bring home something far more valuable than a trophy - a sporting legacy that shall endure

The Yorkshire Post
Updated Mon, 21 August 2023 

Mary Earps of England is congratulated by Millie Bright after saving the penalty taken by Jennifer Hermoso of Spain (not pictured) during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Final match between Spain and England at Stadium Australia on August 20, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

And it isn’t unusual for city squares, town and village halls and community centres to bring people together to watch important football matches.

We are a nation well-versed in supporting the national team, people in their millions wearing three lions on their chest with pride, cheering on England with a collective spirit that sport in this country has a habit of bringing out in us all.

But what is unusual is for all of that to be brought about by women’s football, and yet, as England set about yesterday’s World Cup Final against their ultimately victorious opponents Spain, the fizz that has for years bubbled up around the country was there.

Social media awash with anticipation, messages of support for this England team, who went yet again in search of glory having been crowned European champions just last year.

The front pages of our national newspapers carried in unison headlines screaming support for our Lionesses, news broadcasts on television and radio led with the football. And so even though that coveted trophy will not be ‘coming home’, to borrow a little bit of footballing parlance, a sporting legacy that will prevail forever is heading home.

Because what our national team has done in the last year or so, not just for the so-called women’s game – football belongs to us all – but for sport in general and for wider society should not be underestimated.

In the years to come, certainly in this country, the likes of Yorkshire’s Millie Bright, Rachel Daly, Bethany England, Ellie Roebuck and Esme Morgan will be able to count as their legacy leading women’s football into the mainstream.