Greg Clarke, the FIFA vice president who heads English soccer, faced criticism on Tuesday for setting back moves to increase diversity and eradicate racism after offensive comments at a parliamentary select committee hearing.
The Football Association chairman did apologize for inappropriately referencing “colored footballers,” but not for claiming South Asian people have “different career interests” rather than playing the game and for saying sexuality was a “life choice.”
Sanjay Bhandari, the executive chair of anti-discrimination group Kick It Out, said he was “extremely disappointed” by Clarke’s comments during the House of Commons select committee appearance.
“His use of outdated language to describe Black and Asian people as ‘colored’ is from decades ago and should remain consigned to the dustbin of history,” Bhandari said.