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New diversity data and hiring statistics further highlight the “grass ceiling” facing black footballers, the co-founder of the Black Footballers Partnership has said. BFP data published earlier this year found black players make up 43 per cent of those active in the Premier League. However, statistics released by the Football Association on Wednesday show that only 7.4 per cent of people in senior leadership roles at the 53 clubs signed up to its Football Leadership Diversity Code are black, Asian or mixed heritage. The figure was only slightly higher in team operations (8.9 per cent) and only 10.5 per cent among senior coaches. The clubs also failed to hit any of the code’s eight diversity hiring targets in the 2022-23 season, with the FA accepting the hiring rates are too low to drive the necessary rapid change in representation. The FA is consulting on a new rule to force clubs to report biannually on their workforce, and BFP co-founder Delroy Corinaldi feels if the game cannot get this right, there could be a future role for the independent regulator in ensuring compliance. “Black players have been told time and again by the FA that you need to give the code time to work,” Corinaldi told the PA news agency. “How much time do they want? If the FA can’t deliver, it needs to hold its hand up. “Black players are nearly 50 per cent of your (playing) workforce. The signal you’re sending to those people is that once you get to your 30s, it’s punditry or leave the game, because there is a real ‘grass ceiling’ the FA is doing little to remove. “How disheartening and soul-destroying is that? “This government has said they’re not having diversity as part of its football governance regime. But maybe we need to look at that again. An industry where nearly half the key staff are blocked from promotion is not a functioning one. “We need to get all the authorities in and we need to get serious about this problem, otherwise it will continue for generation after generation.” FA chief executive Mark Bullingham admitted in the foreword to this year’s FLDC report that the game was making “slower progress” towards diversifying at the executive, operations and coaching level than had been hoped. He believes mandating clubs to report workforce data represents a “critical change for football which futureproofs our approach for years to come”. “There is no silver bullet to solving these challenges and we know that this alone will not drive all of the change we want to see. “But publishing who we are, measuring that regularly and setting targets that stretch clubs to do better is a big step forward. It will be for clubs to set their own targets based on local factors, but it will help provide a clear statement that football is tackling diversity head-on.” Read More Wales boss Rob Page hails ‘great opportunity’ after Euro 2024 play-off draw PCA calls for action over ‘unsustainable’ men’s domestic cricket schedule Who are the contenders to replace Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland boss? On This Day in 2008 – Ricky Hatton dominates Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas New sponsor to help 460 clubs in Women’s FA Cup market themselves with AI app Stephen Kenny believes he leaves behind a ‘great job’ for Ireland successor

Israel and Ukraine could face each other for a spot at next year’s European Championship

The Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe are still discussing the legal points of what the ownership structure of Manchester United would look like after INEOS’ takeover of a 25 percent stake, having agreed on the broad principles of the purchase. The prospective deal has been described by those involved as one of the most complicated in the long recent list of football takeovers, due to the distinctive condition of the minority owner taking full control of the sporting side of the club. It is understood that Ratcliffe’s eventual football staff would not have to run major decisions past the Glazers, as has been the case for the last decade. The main legal terms that have to be settled now are exactly how the separation would work, particularly as INEOS has been insistent on a potential path to majority ownership through equity. That may involve compromise on both sides to get this crucial initial agreement over the line, which has slowed what has already been a glacial structure. The Independent has been told that negotiations on a minority stake have actually been taking place since May, with INEOS quickly realising that the Glazers had no real intention of selling outright. As regards the eventual football structure, there have been tentative private conversations, but Ratcliffe and his staff want to properly survey how the club works when they are in place before making firm decisions. That means any overt influence in January is unlikely, if the deal is even confirmed by then. Former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards is admired by INEOS, to go with talk of Paul Mitchell and Dougie Freedman. It is uncertain, however, whether Edwards would want to get back into football. Any such appointments would form a group feeding up to Jean-Claude Blanc under Ratcliffe, with input from Sir Dave Brailsford. As regards when confirmation may finally come, those involved are waiting for the green light, since the stock exchange has to be informed within 24 hours. The nature of the discussions so far, however, has taught everyone not to be definitive about timeframes. Read More Manchester United takeover reaches one-year mark with Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to secure stake Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold steps down as Ineos era nears Harry Maguire ‘showing he can do the job’ – Erik ten Hag Rumours: Sancho and Antony head up Man Utd’s 15-player sale list Who are the contenders to replace Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland boss? Manchester United handed Luke Shaw fitness boost ahead of Everton match

The Chennai Super Kings say England test captain Ben Stokes has made himself unavailable for the 2024 Indian Premier League “to manage his workload and fitness."

India has won the toss and elected to field in the first Twenty20 international of the five-match series against Australia as the countries meet again just four days after the Cricket World Cup final

Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco have the French league’s two best finishers in Kylian Mbappé and Wissam Ben Yedder

Slavia Prague has been fined 91,625 euros ($100,000) by UEFA for crowd trouble during its Europa League home game against Roma

Wales have been drawn to host Finland in the semi-finals of the qualification play-offs for Euro 2024. The match will take place on Thursday, March 21 at Cardiff City Stadium. Should Rob Page’s men win that single-leg tie, they would then host either Poland or Estonia five days later at the same venue to play for a spot at next summer’s tournament in Germany. Finland finished third in Northern Ireland’s qualifying group – four points behind both Denmark and Slovenia – after winning six of their 10 fixtures. They sit 62nd in the FIFA rankings, 34 places below Wales, and are aiming to qualify for the European Championship finals for only the second time following their debut at Euro 2020. Wales are seeking to secure a third successive appearance at the finals of the competition and reach a fourth major tournament out of the last five after last year ending their 64-year wait to play at the World Cup. They finished third in Group D of qualifying, behind pool winners Turkey and second-placed Croatia. Just three of the 24 places at Euro 2024 remain up for grabs, with Wales attempting to navigate Path A of the play-offs. In Path B, Israel face a semi-final against Iceland following Thursday’s draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, while Bosnia and Herzegovina will host Ukraine. Georgia take on fellow potential tournament debutants Luxembourg in Path C, while Kazakhstan travel to 2004 European champions Greece in the other semi-final of that route. Read More Who are the contenders to replace Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland boss? On This Day in 2008 – Ricky Hatton dominates Paulie Malignaggi in Las Vegas New sponsor to help 460 clubs in Women’s FA Cup market themselves with AI app

The FA confirm they will review the investigation into Tottenham's sale of Jermain Defoe in 2008 amid claims Spurs used an unlicensed agent.

Everton seems fueled by a sense of perceived injustice and is ready to turn its Goodison Park home into a bearpit in response to being deducted a Premier League-record 10 points for breaching financial rules

Wales will learn their Euro 2024 play-off opponents as the draw is made to determine the bracket for the three remaining places at next summer’s finals. Rob Page’s side will need to navigate the play-offs if they are to reach a fourth major tournament in eight years after Wales finished behind Turkey and Croatia in qualifying from Group D. Follow all the live action from the Euro 2024 play-off draw here Wales are guaranteed a home semi-final after taking their place in play-off ‘Path A’ - but the draw will determine who they face in March’s play-off rounds, while Poland and Robert Lewandowski could be waiting in the final. They will hope to join England and Scotland in next summer’s tournament - and Wales will know what group they would be in if they win their semi-final and final ahead of the March play-offs. Here’s everything you need to know. When is the Euro 2024 play-off draw? The draw will take place from 11am GMT on Thursday 23 November. How can I watch It? The draw will be streamed live on Uefa.com and the official Euro 2024 app. How do the Euro 2024 play-offs work? There is still space for three teams to join the Euro 2024 draw, with three separate ‘paths’ offering those sides who qualified for the play-offs a way into the tournament finals. Wales will play one of Finland, Ukraine or Iceland in the semi-finals before either Poland or Estonia in the final. Who could still qualify? Semi-finals – Path A: Poland (1) vs Estonia (4) / Wales (2) vs TBC* Semi-finals – Path B: Israel (1) vs TBC* / Bosnia and Herzegovina (2) vs TBC* Semi-finals – Path C: Georgia (1) vs Luxembourg (4) / Greece (2) vs Kazakhstan (3) TBC* = one of Finland, Ukraine or Iceland How does the play-off draw work? According to Uefa, the main thing to draw is which side from Finland, Ukraine or Iceland goes into ‘Path A’ and which of the other two go into ‘Path B’. The draw will also determine which winner of the semi-final hosts the play-off final. According to Uefa, if Finland are allocated to Path B by the draw, as the higher-ranked team they would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and whichever of Ukraine or Iceland are allocated to Path B would play top-ranked Israel. If Ukraine and Iceland are both allocated to Path B, the higher-ranked Ukraine would play Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iceland would play Israel. When is the Euro 2024 group stage draw? The draw ceremony for the Euro 2024 group stage takes place on Saturday 2 December from 5pm GMT (6pm local time) in Hamburg. How to watch The Euro 2024 draw will be shown on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 5:15pm GMT. The draw will also be streamed live online on Uefa’s official website, YouTube channel and app. What are the pots? Pot 1: Germany (hosts), Portugal, France, Spain, Belgium, England Pot 2: Hungary, Turkey, Romania, Denmark, Albania, Austria Pot 3: Netherlands, Scotland, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic Pot 4: Italy, Serbia, Switzerland, Play-off winner A, Play-off winner B, Play-off winner C How does the draw work? As hosts, Germany are automatically assigned to Group A. The draw will then place the remaining teams from Pot 1 into Groups B-F. The process continues with the teams from Pot 2 able to be placed into Groups A-F, and the same produces applies with Pot 3 and Pot 4. Teams will also be given a position within their group, which will determine their fixture schedule. As hosts, Germany will occupy position A1. Read More What time is the Euro 2024 play-off draw and how can I watch it? Who has qualified for Euro 2024 - and which nations still could? Euro 2024 play-off draw LIVE: Wales and Ukraine discover fate When is the Euro 2024 draw and what are the pots? Life after Bale: Rob Page faces key problems trying to reinvent Wales Wales must take the long road to Euro 2024 after automatic hopes extinguished

Defending champion South Dakota State remains at the top as the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs are set to get underway