Dwight Yorke has hit out at the ‘playboy’ tag he’s always been labelled with in football while speaking passionately on talkSPORT about his belief that racism remains rife in the game.
The former Manchester United forward has completed all his coaching badges, but he’s yet to be given an interview for any roles he has applied for, despite seeing other high-profile figures get fast-tracked into management.
The killing of George Floyd while in police custody has sparked huge anti-racist protests across the globe, as well as discussions about deep-rooted racism within football.
Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling, who has emerged as an eloquent and powerful speaker, has called on more black people to be given opportunities in football, an issue Yorke says has been prevalent for many years.
“I’m glad Raheem Sterling is speaking out about this, he’s done a sterling job doing that,” Yorke told Tuesday’s talkSPORT Breakfast.
“But it’s people like myself who have lived in the sports world and achieved things, who are on the other side of it realising the difficulties that black people face on an every day basis, not just alone in football but around the world.
“I’ve applied for two jobs recently and I didn’t even get a response back after putting my CV in.
“Having someone like Sir Alex Ferguson on the end of the phone ready to give me a recommendation is great, but I couldn’t even get a response back, let alone an interview.
“Let’s call it for what it is. Let’s be real to the situation. We’re looking in the Premier League – are there any black managers there at this present time? No.
“Can we go to Spain? No. Italy? No. Bundesliga? No.
“The fact so many black players have played the game, you are basically saying to us none of us want to get in to management.”
He continued: “Let the truth be told there are people who have been fast forwarded into management.
“Now I’m not saying that is wrong, I’m just saying be fair with the system; and the system is not being fair towards black players or black people who are trying to become a manager.
“I can even go further to say look at the backroom staff. In 20 years I played football professionally at the highest level and I remember coming across one black person in the backroom staff – and he was only a masseuse.
“So these are the things we are being faced with, and you wonder why the questions are being asked time and time again.
“This is not just a question for now or what Raheem Sterling has been saying, this has been a problem for years.
“I’ve lived the life of understanding of being a professional footballer, you work so hard and that is in your control.
“But when the control is in the reverse situation, you understand why you can’t get jobs in football. It’s an injustice.
“When a black person has gone for any type of job they’re not seen as adequate or qualified enough, even though they have the qualifications.”
Addressing the ‘playboy’ tag he had as a player, Yorke added: “For some reason there is this stereotype that black people are lazy and they don’t work hard enough.
“This stereotype about me for instance, saying I’m a playboy; what makes me a playboy?
“Have you ever heard of me missing training? I run out bleep tests, I’ve been at the top of my game, I’ve never been an alcoholic or been pictured fighting in clubs or anything of that nature.
“But yet I’ve been labelled because of the stereotype that black players get. It’s ludicrous.
“It’s what the media make you out to be, when you’re totally not that individual at all.
“I’ve never broken curfews. Yes, I enjoy myself. But does that make me a person that doesn’t understand what my profession is all about?
“And on top of that you get judged despite all your achievements on top of that as a player.
“It’s just a whole type of stereotype.”
When asked by talkSPORT host Laura Woods whether he sees the situation changing in football, the former Trinidad and Tobago captain expressed major doubts.
“No, I’m not confident of things changing,” he finished. “It’s just talk and gesture, this has been happening for years..
“I know that this happens outside of my industry as well. We talk about the Rooney Rule, what is that? That never even existed.
“Look at what Sol Campbell had to do to even get a job and where he is now. Look at what Darren Moore had to contend with when he was at West Brom.
“The injustice is just not fair. Give us black people an equal opportunity. Let’s call it for what it is. You can’t even get a telephone call back when you apply for jobs.
“Someone told me I had to get experience once. How am I going to get experience if no-one is employing you?
“I see myself around the Championship level, but the ultimate aim is to get into the Premier League. I’m even looking as far out as South Africa at the moment because I feel like I need to go out to come back in.
“But yet people get fast forwarded to jobs with no experience whatsoever. You’re going to be at bit upset when you see things like this happening.
“If someone like me with my CV as a player can’t even get a response what is out there for a lesser person who is not fortunate to be in my position?
“You have a reference from someone like Sir Alex Ferguson and you would not even embrace him or give him a chance? It’s just crazy.”
talkSPORT is your home for live football when the Premier League resumes on 17 June with an unprecedented line-up of fixtures, including four back-to-back matches on Saturdays
