Where are the black players? Campbell blasts FA over new all-white commission



Not representative: Former England defender Sol Campbell criticised the all-white make-up of the Football Association Commission set up by Greg Dyke this week

Former England defender sol Campbell has criticised the ethnic make-up of the Football Association's commission to shape the future direction of the game.

All eight members of the panel, announced by chairman Greg Dyke earlier this week, are white.

Among those chosen are former England manager Glenn Hoddle, former FA technical director Howard Wilkinson and ex-England defender Danny Mills.

But Campbell, who won 73 caps for England during an 11-year international career and played in six major tournaments, believes it should be more representative.

He told BBC Sport: 'I wouldn't mind if they had some black players in there, black players who have actually done something for club and country.

'Football is a diverse game and that should be reflected in the committee.

'There is enough experience there but I wouldn't mind if they looked at other avenues and maybe put some black players in there to mix it about.

'It seems like that's overlooked all the time. I don't know who's whispering in their ears but it seems the same situation keeps cropping up.

'The FA has got to start opening up, spreading its wings and looking at different people from different backgrounds who have done great things for club and country to get the views they need to move on.

'You can't have similar people, similar mindsets, in one committee if you want to expand and find different solutions.'



Respected figure: Campbell won 73 caps for England over an 11-year international career

Jubilation: Campbell celebrates with Michael Owen after scoring his one and only England goal - against Sweden at the 2002 World Cup in Saitama, Japan

THE FA COMMISSION IN FULL

Glenn Hoddle - England manager 1996-1999

Howard Wilkinson - Former FA technical director

Danny Mills - Former England defender

Greg Clarke - Chairman of the Football League

Ritchie Humphreys - New PFA Chairman

Dario Gradi - Crewe director of football

Greg Dyke - FA Chairman

Roger Burden - FA vice-chairman

The panel, which will report back by the end of March 2014, will look at ways of increasing the number of English players representing teams in the Premier League.

Although a sometimes vocal critic of the FA's methods, Campbell welcomed the commission.

'I don't want it to fail, I want it to be successful. But it's a really tough job because they left it far too long to wake up to the problem.

'At least they finally recognised the problem and are going to do something about it.'

He sympathised with Jack Wilshere's views that all England players should be English-born but didn't believe it would always be possible.

He added: 'I see where he is coming from, you need to have at least grown up in England and understand the meaning of playing for England.

Planning the future: Greg Dyke set up the Commission this week to try and address the problems in the English game

'But the FA has to look at different avenues and explore everything.

'Football moves so quickly and if you haven't got that pool of players to fill the void for outgoing players of England, you have to look at other avenues.'



