Jose Mourinho: No Racism In Football, Says Chelsea Boss

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says “there is no racism in football”, amid calls to introduce American Football's 'Rooney Rule' to the game in England.

With only two black managers in the Premier League and Football League, such a rule would require at least one black or ethnic minority candidate to be interviewed for each vacancy.

But Mourinho said: “Football is not so stupid to close doors to people.

“If you are good, you get the job. If you are top, you are top.”

Mourinho was answering a question on whether the Rooney Rule needs to be brought into the English game, during a press conference ahead of Sunday's London derby with Arsenal.

Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor told BBC Sport last week there was a “hidden resistance” from English clubs to hiring black managers.

Carlisle boss Keith Curle and Huddersfield's Chris Powell are the only black managers at 92 Premier League and Football League clubs.

Approximately 25% of players are black or ethnic minority and ex-England captain Paul Ince wants the 'Rooney Rule' employed to stop the issue being “swept under the carpet”.

The man who helped introduce the rule into American football in 2003, Dan Rooney, told BBC Radio 5 live it would be a “positive thing” if the rule was adopted in English football.

Rooney, owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and chairman of the NFL's workplace diversity committee, said: “I would tell British clubs that if they would look at this openly they will find this is a positive thing.”

“The plus side of this is you're increasing your list of people to look at and it would really work. I couldn't recommend it enough for the teams in Britain.”

BBC SPORT