The FA’s ‘Bringing Opportunities to Communities’

The FA’s ‘Bringing Opportunities to Communities’ strategy focuses on encouraging people from Asian communities to get involved in football.

April 2019 saw the launch of Phase 2 of this strategy. It’s based on the fact that Asian communities represent 8% (4 million people) of this country’s population, but are significantly under-represented across all levels of football, especially at the elite level.

The work based on our strategy began in 2015. Phase 1 focused on participation, development, role models and talent identification. To inform Phase 2, in late 2018 we held eight community forums across the country’s eight most diverse counties. Engaging with over 500 people from Asian communities at all levels of the game, we’ve used the feedback and insight from these communities and wider partners to frame the objectives for Phase 2 (2019-21)

• Embed Asian inclusion across The FA and its people;
• Raise awareness of pathways into football for Asian communities;
• Embed Asian inclusion across grassroots football;
• Create opportunities to increase Asian female participation;
• Create more engagement and communication between The FA and Asian communities

“Our Asian Inclusion plan across its five key pillars will help to address the underrepresentation of Asian communities across all areas of the game. In time, we hope to see more players, coaches, referees and staff from an Asian background making football their chosen career path and changing perceptions.”

Wasim Haq, FA Inclusion Advisory Board member#