LONDON, Aug 20: Aston Villa forward Dion Dublin believes English football is institutionally racist.

Dublin claims black players are stopped from going on to become managers and coaches by a racist element within the game.

“I think there is an element of racism within choosing your staff,” Dublin told the BBC.

“We haven’t got a lot of important people in high places, black people, as regards football.

“So I think that is where we have to start and look carefully as to how we change that. It is not good if you have a one-race staff, it cannot be right. And at the moment I think that is what we have got in the hierarchy.”

While there are almost 300 black professional footballers in England’s four divisions, there are only four black managers, all in the bottom two leagues.—AFP