Over 2,000 FA referees will now have access to valuable online learning focused on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) as part of a new partnership announced by Kick It Out and The FA.
Through this collaboration, FA officials across both the men’s and women’s game will be able to take Kick It Out's education courses via The FA's learning platform.
The first course, covering Islam and Muslim Communities, will be rolled out this month, followed by a range of courses including allyship, antisemitism, sexism & misogyny, and LGBTQ+ awareness throughout the season.
This partnership is set to reach officials in the grassroots game, giving them the opportunity to broaden their understanding of different values, cultures, and forms of discrimination. It will also provide insight into diversity and under-represented communities, both within football and in wider society.
Building on a similar initiative launched last season with the PGMOL which provided match officials and staff with access to the same EDI-related digital education, the partnership offers continuity and consistency to learning in this area throughout the refereeing pathway.
Kick It Out CEO, Sam Okafor, said: “We are excited to announce our new partnership with The FA refereeing, which will allow us to extend our educational resources to FA officials on key issues related to EDI.
“This partnership will provide FA officials with the tools they need to foster a more inclusive culture, both on the field and in their wider roles within the game.
“The Academy courses, which are free for anyone to take part in, have already reached thousands of people across football, and we look forward to working with The FA refereeing as we roll out these important modules over the coming months.”
Raj Randhawa, Refereeing EDI Delivery Manager at The FA, said, “This invaluable partnership between Kick It Out and The FA strengthens our nationwide work to make refereeing inclusive for everyone.
“This initiative is a vital part of our Refereeing Strategy, concentrating on two core areas - Diversity and Inclusion, to foster a culture of equal opportunity, and Performance and Development, to provide referees with the tools they need to reach their highest potential.
“Through modern technology, we’ve been able to create an EDI-focused curriculum to reach grassroots referees across the country and we look forward to rolling this out throughout the season.”
The Academy is Kick It Out’s Digital Learning Platform offering educational content for people across football related to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
The platform hosts free of charge EDI learning resources designed to connect coaches, clubs, players and fans with training materials and expertise.
