‘A lot of doors are closed’ - Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira says football lacks diversity in management

Patrick Vieira has taken aim at the lack of diversity in football management, and raised concerns about the lack of opportunities for young African people. The Crystal Palace boss is currently the only manager from an ethnic minority in the Premier League, and played for one of the most diverse French team’s in the country’s history. Ad Speaking to CNN after being honoured at the Best of Africa Awards, Vieira said diversity in management is just as important as diversity on the pitch, and that “a lot of doors are closed.” TransfersCity and Arsenal agree £30m fee for Zinchenko transfer — reports16/07/2022 AT 09:09 “We’re living in a society where it’s tough, it’s difficult, for a young African person to succeed because I strongly believe that a lot of doors are closed and we don’t have the opportunity that we deserve to,” Vieira said.

“When we are going to football matches and we are looking at the field and we’re seeing that diversity on the field, I would love to see the same kind of diversity higher. We’re talking about our federations, we’re talking about not just Black people, but having women as well. We want to be judged by our quality.

“The door is closed and the door is closed because of the colour of the skin, or because of your religion, or because you are a woman, that has to change,” he added. Vieira acknowledged a gradual change in football becoming more diverse, but insisted it’s too slow. “Things are changing and things are improving, but too slowly.