PFA chief Gordon Taylor Reveals a Six-point Action Plan to Deal with Racism

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                                               PFA Chairman- Gordon Taylor

Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor has announced a six-point action plan to deal with racism in the game.

Taylor has been stung by criticism from some members and the PFA chief executive insists the union is seeking tougher penalties for racist abuse.

Proposals include making racism a potentially a sackable offence, culprits ordered to attend awareness programmes and a form of the 'Rooney rule' to boost the number of black coaches and managers.

The list reads: 1 - Speeding up the process of dealing with reported racist abuse with close monitoring of any incidents.

2 - Consideration of stiffer penalties for racist abuse and to include an equality awareness programme for culprits and clubs involved.

3 - An English form of the 'Rooney rule' - introduced by the NFL in America in 2003 - to make sure qualified black coaches are on interview lists for job vacancies.

4 - The proportion of black coaches and managers to be monitored and any inequality or progress highlighted.

5 - Racial abuse to be considered gross misconduct in player and coach contracts (and therefore potentially a sackable offence).

6 - To not lose sight of other equality issues such as gender, sexual orientation, disability, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and Asians in football.

Meanwhile, Taylor also called for unity in the wake of some players considering forming a breakaway organisation for black players.

"If we are not careful this will set us back years. It would not only set back the game, it would set back the anti-racist initiative," Taylor said.