Van Sterkenburg reflects in NRC on Rooney Rule to make football more inclusive

Jacco van Sterkenburg explains in NRC the strengths and vulnerabilities of the 'Rooney Rule' to create more diversity in leadership positions in football in the Netherlands.

Under the Rooney Rule, a sports club must invite at least one person from an ethnic minority background for an interview when a management position becomes vacant. The Rooney Rule has now been implemented in the United States and England, with varying degrees of success. Organisations outside sport, such as Facebook, are now also using similar regulations to achieve greater diversity. Van Sterkenburg indicates in NRC that the Rooney Rule is a means to break down closed networms, but that more is needed to bring about a change in mindset. If the latter does not happen, the Rooney Rule is a lot less effective.

Read the entire article in NRC.

Van Sterkenburg's opinion part of secondary school teaching materials

An opinion piece by Van Sterkenburg on racism in football, in NRC of 13 February 2020, has been selected to be included in Leswijs, a Dutch language method for secondary schools. The teaching material will be made available in a secure digital learning environment. The circulation of Leswijs Nederlands consists of 2,500 digital licences, about 20% of which also purchase books. About 2,500 pupils will therefore use the method next year. For the next five years, this material will remain available for schools that purchase a licence for Leswijs.

Associate professor
Related content
The racist treatment of Excelsior footballer Ahmad Mendes Moreira by supporters of FC Den Bosch last Saturday, November 16, was a much-discussed topic in the…
Voetbalspelerd door Jannik Skorna via unsplash.com
Jacco van Sterkenburg has received a NWO-Vidi grant to support his research on racial/ethnical stereotypes in men's televised football and the audience…
Portrait picture of Jacco van Sterkenburg

Compare @count study programme

  • @title

    • Duration: @duration
Compare study programmes