Manchester United Women's Boss Casey Stoney Claims WSL Is 'Very White' And 'Has To Change'

Manchester United women's boss Casey Stoney has claimed that the Women's Super League is "very white" as she called for more "visibility" with role models in the sport.

The Daily Telegraph reported last month that only 10 to 15 per cent of WSL players came from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background.

Stoney has been widely praised for her impact at United since the Red Devils reintroduced their women's football team in 2018.

The 38-year-old former Arsenal and Liverpool player was hailed as a "game-changer" on International Women's Day earlier this week.

However, Stoney believes that more needs to be done in the sport to promote diversity, saying it is "very white" and it "has to change."

The United head coach told Sky Sports: "I don't think we're anywhere near where we need to be if I'm honest.

"Not only from a female perspective, but from a diversity and ethnicity perspective. Our game is very white, and that has to change. We have to look at what the barriers and challenges are.

"We have to make sure everybody feels this is a game for them. We need visibility, so people can see role models within the game. If you can't see it, you can't be it. We have a lot of work to do.

"Equality and diversity is something we have to improve drastically. That's not just football, that's society. I would say diversity is far worse in the women's game than the men's game.

"You look across the top WSL clubs, you can count on one hand the amount of black and minority ethnic players there are in the game. That's got to change.

"I don't want players to feel they can't come to my football club [because of the colour of their skin]. We need to encourage all players into the game. If I don't see people like me, there is probably a fear to come into that environment.

Stoney insisted that football has come "an [awfully] long way," but she added that the WSL is "getting more coverage" and is "still growing."

She continued: "We need role models. The game has come a long way -- an awful long way.

"We have a fully professional WSL, the standard of the women's game has gone to another level.

"We are getting more coverage, but the game is still growing."

United women's team are currently third in the WSL table and are six points behind league leaders Chelsea.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Manchester United, WSL, England, Women's Super League

Adnan Riaz

Adnan Riaz is a journalist for SPORTbible. He studied for a B.A. in History at the University of York and followed it up with an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism at MMU. Before he started writing about sports, he spent over four years in the gaming press. He has worked for several publications, including Hardcore Gamer, LADbible and the Manchester Evening News. Follow him on Twitter to find out what he is working on next. Got a story tip for Adnan? Email him: [email protected]

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