Anwar Uddin – complicated language can confuse fans when it comes to diversity

The first British South Asian to captain a league side readily agrees diversity is an intricate topic—but worries complex language is causing fans to tune out of progress-inspiring conversations.

Anwar Uddin made history when, in 2007, he led out League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge against Stockport.

It was one of many milestones throughout the career of the first British-Bangladeshi to play professional English football, who now leads the Fans for Diversity campaign and worries the sport is not reaching those it most wants to listen.

“When you talk about real change, about equality and diversity, it’s a complicated subject,” he told the PA news agency at the launch of Together, the EFL’s new inclusion strategy.

“And actually when you look at some of the strategies, discussions, your everyday football fan will switch off.

“Yes, the complications are great because detail is important, but actually it’s just about being the best human being you can be and having an understanding that there are now people that are confident to be their authentic self, which may differ to you entirely.

“You may have never come across a person that you’re standing or sitting next to in a football stadium in your life, but there’s nothing scary about it.

“I’d never really had a lot of a relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, now we’re working with [them] every single day. We’ve set up trans teams with the community and allies, mixed gender teams.

“You have to go into it understanding you don’t have all the answers, but for people from underrepresented communities, the importance of allies is huge.”

The picture for South Asian footballers has not changed much since Uddin retired from a 12-year career, which first saw him work his way up to