Hasselbaink Hits Back at Braverman Over FA Diversity Policy Criticism
Former England striker and coach Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has issued a robust defence of the Football Association's diversity targets, following scathing criticism from former Conservative home secretary Suella Braverman. Braverman, who joined Reform UK in January, labelled the FA's plan for 30 per cent of England men's coaches to come from ethnic minorities by 2028 as 'racist' and 'utter woke nonsense' in a letter to FA chief executive Mark Bullingham this week, demanding the policy be abolished.
Hasselbaink's Personal Experience with Coaching Appointments
Speaking via Zoom to reporters on Wednesday afternoon, Hasselbaink revealed that when initially approached by Gareth Southgate about potentially joining the England coaching staff, he sought explicit assurances about the motivations behind his recruitment. 'I made sure when I was asked by Gareth Southgate, I just don't want to be there because I'm black,' Hasselbaink stated. 'I want to be there because you think that I can help you and I'm good enough to be there. Because I don't want to be getting favours.'
The former Chelsea and Leeds United forward emphasised his qualifications and merit, saying: 'I've done all my badges. I've done all my education. I've coached in the right way. So, I wanted to know, first and foremost, am I good enough? Are you getting me because I'm good enough? And we had a good conversation about that.' Hasselbaink accepted the role only after being convinced it was based on his coaching ability, not his ethnicity.
Why Diversity Targets Remain Necessary in Football
While Hasselbaink acknowledged that in an ideal world such policies would be unnecessary, he argued they are currently essential to combat systemic issues within the sport. 'If the FA or whatever organisation are doing the interviews blindly, so not looking at colour – and this is over the whole industry, really – then I would say, "Go for it and give the best person the job". But that is not the case,' he explained.
He highlighted a critical barrier: many black former players are discouraged from pursuing coaching qualifications due to perceived lack of opportunities. 'It's also there to help black ex-players to go and do their badges because there are jobs out there for us. At the moment, the majority – 95, 97 per cent of black players – they don't want to go and do their badges because they say, "We will never get a job". That's why that rule has been put in.'
FA's Official Response and Broader Context
The FA has also formally responded to Braverman's attack, releasing a statement defending its Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) strategy. 'We are proud that our strategy is supporting the growth of football among men, women, boys and girls from all communities,' the statement read. 'Football has the unique ability to break down barriers and bring communities together. Through our EDI strategy, we aim to ensure the game reflects the full diversity of our nation.'
The FA emphasised a meritocratic approach while recognising the need for proactive measures: 'This means opening up pathways and creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds – including those from historically underrepresented groups. While we will always take a meritocratic approach by appointing the best people for roles, we also recognise the importance of having a broader range of participants across the sport.'
Promoting Safety in Football
Hasselbaink's comments came during a promotional event for the Football Safety App, a digital platform designed to tackle abuse in the sport. The app allows users to report incidents to a 24-hour control room, providing clubs with behavioural insights to identify abuse hotspots, high-risk fixtures, and environments where preventative action may be required. This initiative underscores the broader efforts within football to create a more inclusive and secure environment for all participants.
