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QPR manager Chris Ramsey say discrimination is society's problem

Image: Chris Ramsey: QPR boss says discrimination a society problem

QPR manager Chris Ramsey insists society as a whole has to do more to tackle homophobia and racism in football.

Figures released to Sky Sports News HQ show a 35 per cent increase in the number of cases reported to anti-discrimination campaigners Kick it Out.

Speaking ahead of his team’s Premier League game against Arsenal, Ramsey admitted the statistics are a worry.

He said: “Being a member of British society it concerns me. A lot of these problems are not football related, they just manifest themselves in this arena and people can see it more clearly. From that point of view it concerns me as a member of British society.”

Figures show a 65 per cent increase in incidents reported in the top four divisions of English football, most of which are related to race or faith.

But Ramsey, the only black manager in the Premier League, insists racism not the only problem.

A lot of these problems are not football related, they just manifest themselves in this arena and people can see it more clearly.
Chris Ramsey

“When you look at it homophobia is something that has always been there and it was that people were more frightened to bring that to public limelight than racism – so it’s good that there’s more awareness but it needs addressing throughout society," he said.

Kick it Out puts the increase down to victims feeling more confident about reporting cases. The organisation also beleives their app, which allows people to come forward anonymously, has helped.

But former Liverpool and Republic of Ireland defender Phil Babb believes high profile cases, including the actions of Chelsea fans on the Paris Metro last month, show eradicating discrimination will be a tough task.

“Unfortunately, it is a social ill that I don’t think is ever going to really disappear,” Babb told The Morning View.

“It comes down to education from a very early age to deal with things like racism and homophobia. There are a number of different prejudices that people have to deal with.

“They (Chelsea) certainly did the right thing. They responded swiftly and they distanced themselves from those that appeared to be bigots. They can only do what they can which is suspend them disown them and disassociate them from the club.”

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