The EFL has today made a further commitment to improving equality in first-team football by introducing a recruitment code into Regulations in order to help address the under-representation of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) managers.

It follows an 18-month trial period, with EFL Clubs voluntarily committing to interview at least one BAME candidate when undertaking a recruitment process for any managerial position in first-team football.



That commitment has now been formalised with the introduction of a new Regulation ensuring that the principle of providing more opportunities to BAME candidates is mandatory when Clubs consider multiple applicants for a role.



OBSERVING TRAINING ACTIVITY

In addition, EFL Clubs have approved the introduction of a new Regulation, to provide further clarity on the matter of Clubs observing training sessions of their opponents ahead of an EFL fixture.



After finalising its investigations into the incident at Derby County’s training ground, the EFL reached the conclusion that the conduct undertaken by Leeds United in observing opponents’ training sessions was a breach of Regulation 3.4.



However, as the EFL stated at the time of the investigation, further clarity was required in the Regulations so that Clubs are clear on their obligations.



With this in mind, the EFL Board proposed the introduction of the new Regulation, while supporting the general principle of upholding ‘good faith’ as outlined in Regulation 3.4.



The new Regulation reads as follows:



Without prejudice to the requirements of Regulation 3.4 (that each Club shall behave towards each other Club with the upmost good faith), no Club shall directly or indirectly observe (or attempt to observe) another Club’s training session in the period of 72 hours prior to any match scheduled to be played between those respective Clubs.