AP
Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand warms up prior to the Champions League Group H soccer match against SC Braga at Old Trafford in Manchester.
London - Rio Ferdinand is planning to revolutionise English football with the launch of a breakaway union to protect the interests of black footballers.
Ferdinand, who refused to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt before Manchester United?s clash against Stoke on Saturday, has already joined other high-profile black players in overseeing the first draft of a constitution.
The United defender and his colleagues want to tackle discrimination in all forms and will hold a series of meetings in London over the next few weeks.
The union - which has a working name of The Federation of Black Players but will be open to players from all ethnic backgrounds who share a desire to combat racism in English football - will be self-funded by professionals at every level.
The union?s mission statement is expected to honour the achievements of black footballers and promote unity within the sport at every level, from players to spectators.
The idea, which has been conceived by Ferdinand, is already gathering momentum among black players and has received widespread support.
It will be the first of its kind in this country, but there is a long-established Black Baseball Players Association in the United States.
Ferdinand wants to protect the interests of the current generation of black players and is eager, for instance, to defend the rights of the young players caught up in last week?s traumatic events that marred the England Under 21 game in Serbia.
Although every professional player is entitled to PFA representation, the new union is unlikely to be affiliated with the official body.
That does, however, remain up for discussion, with meetings with the PFA still planned.
But there is a feeling that it should be independent, when one of the issues a number of black players have with the Kick It Out campaign is the fact that it is funded by the Football Association.
There is a good chance Ferdinand would be nominated as the union?s first chairman, although a number of current and retired black players will be invited to occupy executive positions.
The group have been working on a draft constitution for several weeks and, according to sources, the concept is already at the ?advanced planning stage?.
Ferdinand?s relationship with Kick It Out appears to be badly fractured after he was criticised by the pressure group?s chairman, Lord Ouseley, on Monday.
Lord Ouseley repeated his claims that black, multi-millionaire footballers are over-reacting. He said: ?Would Rio tell England where to stick their shirt if picked or does he think the FA has done enough to tackle racism?
Despite Kick It Out?s unwavering support for Anton Ferdinand and his family during his high-profile court case with John Terry, some players refused to support the campaign at the weekend.?
On Monday, Sir Alex Ferguson confirmed that peace talks had taken place between the United manager and his player on Sunday.
After his initial fury over the stance Ferdinand took in refusing to wear the Kick It Out T-shirt, he said the situation had been ?resolved?.
Ferdinand incurred Ferguson?s wrath after refusing to wear a shirt with the message ?one game one community? at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Brother Anton, along with a number of Queens Park Rangers and Everton players, also refused to support the initiative before Sunday?s Barclays Premier League clash at Loftus Road.
Reading striker Jason Roberts, who refused to wear a Kick It Out T-shirt at Anfield on Saturday, is expected to be a significant voice in the new movement.
He was due to attend a Show Racism the Red Card initiative at the Madejski Stadium on Tuesday but the organisation said he is unlikely to do so.
Roberts, who condemned the Kick It Out campaign last week, has already written to the FA with his observations. The Reading striker has raised a number of issues over the FA?s approach to tackling racism.
Lord Ouseley also criticised the FA, who are a funding partner for Kick It Out, during a series of interviews on Monday.
Daily Mail
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/rio-s-new-union-to-protect-black-players-1.1409910
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