ANTI-RACIST campaign Kick It Out backed England manager Gareth Southgate yesterday after he said that England “must get our own house in order” before accusing World Cup hosts Russia of racism.

The former under-21 boss spent a “really interesting couple of hours” with Kick It Out’s education manager Troy Townsend earlier this week and the anti-discrimination group said that there is still plenty of work left to rid not only the sport but wider society of racism.

“Kick It Out welcomes the England manager’s comments and is pleased that Gareth Southgate is using his position to encourage discussion about the need to tackle racism in English football,” a statement read. 

“It is not only at international level that discriminatory abuse is occurring, but across the entirety of football and more leaders should follow Southgate’s example of speaking up and changing football’s culture on and off the field of play. 

“Kick It Out is delighted that an educational workshop delivered by Troy Townsend, the organisation’s education manager, in which he provided evidence of the appalling racist abuse received by England’s Under-16 team on social media, was able to have an impact on coaches across the national team set-up. It is only by exposing people to the harmful effects of all forms of discrimination and exclusion that we are able to make progress. 

“Discrimination must always be challenged, so it is appropriate that concerns have been raised across football about the potential dangers faced by BAME and LGBT supporters and players at the World Cup in Russia this summer, who must be protected from discriminatory abuse.

“However, the England manager is also correct to emphasise that there is still significant work to be done in this country to eliminate racism from football and wider society and problems at an international level should not provide a smokescreen for the issues that must be addressed closer to home.”