Jason Webber named FAW anti-discrimination manager
- Published
Jonathan Ford was appointed chief executive of the Football Association of Wales in 2009
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has appointed Jason Webber as its anti-discrimination manager.
Webber has worked for the equality campaign organisation Show Racism the Red Card.
FAW chief executive Jonathan Ford said Webber would help ensure "equality, diversity and inclusion are mainstream within all our activities".
"While there has been some progress made in football, there is more that must be done," said Webber.
"We are committed to tackling inequity at all levels of the game and pledge to step up our efforts by developing a new equality, diversity and inclusion plan for Wales.
"We believe education is vital and will be developing a range of educational seminars and resources for the football family."
Webber has the title of equality, diversity, inclusion and integrity manager.
The appointment was highlighted in Ford's statement, external issued by the FAW as a response to global protests following last month's death in police custody of an unarmed black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Black Lives Matter movement has seen events held in Wales as part of those protests.
Ford added: "Recent events in the United States of America and across the world have rightly brought to the forefront the systemic racism within our society and the need for the Black Lives Matter human rights movement.
"As our vision and strategic plan for Welsh football notes, football is so much more than a game in Wales, it is a way of life and an important element of Welsh culture.
"We know that football unites clubs and countries as equals on the field of play; a game that has the power to transcend borders nationalities and race.
"Football also has a unique power to connect people in a positive way and to help change lives for the better. With that, we acknowledge that the FAW has a responsibility to continue to tackle racism and discrimination in the game, as well as using our platform to challenge racism in society.
"As you may have seen across our National Team and National Leagues social channels, we have reiterated the message, 'Mae Bywydau Duon o Bwys [Black Lives Matter]. We can all do better. We must all do better'.
"And at the FAW, we acknowledge that there is so much more we can, and must, do as an association to achieve this goal."
Webber said: "Recent events have once again highlighted the struggle that black and minority ethnic communities continue to experience in their daily lives, along with the oppressive and systemic racism that still exists in our society."
He added: "We are dedicated to increasing the representation and inclusion of ethnic minorities at all levels of the game and throughout the FAW.
"Challenging racism in football and society is all our responsibility and we need everyone's support throughout the football family in Wales.
"Together, we can all make a difference."