Leeds United's Ethan Ampadu joins Premier League players supporting new No Room For Racism film

This includes players from all 20 clubs featuring in a new film which celebrates football's diversity and highlights the collective responsibility to challenge discrimination, wherever it occurs.

Launching ahead of two dedicated No Room For Racism match rounds between October 17 and 25, the video features players including Leeds United skipper Ethan Ampadu, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, Nottingham Forest forward Callum Hudson-Odoi, Manchester City defender Ruben Dias and Brighton & Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma.

The film showcases the diversity of the league while highlighting the impact racism continues to have on players, families and communities.

Players have also contributed to No Room For Racism education resources, which are delivered through Premier League Primary Stars. The resources, which are available to more than 19,000 primary schools across England and Wales, teach children about the power of diversity and how everyone can learn from people from different backgrounds.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was a central figure in the player-led video being created and features in the education resources. He said: “It means a lot to me to represent my community on and off the pitch.

"I'm proud of being part Surinamese, part Dutch and it’s a good feeling to always represent what you stand for.

"I think it's important for young people to see role models who look like them, to see that they can achieve anything. It doesn't matter who you are, what you do or how you look.”

Leeds and Wales star Ampadu said: “I think it's really important for young people to see role models who look like them.

"It can give them the confidence to grow up and try to achieve whatever they want by seeing someone who is familiar doing it first.

"Growing up my dad inspired me the most. He was the first male figure in my life. He was a footballer too, so growing up seeing my dad playing football gave me the confidence that I could do it myself.”

No Room For Racism launched in 2019, encouraging supporters to challenge and report discriminatory abuse, wherever they encounter it. Two years later, the League established the No Room For Racism Action Plan, setting out a series of commitments and targets designed to combat discrimination, enhance pathways into football for under-represented groups, support communities through education, and embed equality across club operations.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “During the latest No Room For Racism match rounds, we are using the reach of our players to send an important message: we are united in the fight against racism.

"We are also highlighting the incredible impact diversity has within our game and communities, something the League and clubs are committed to developing throughout the season.

“Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, but sadly we still see cases of players and others within football facing abhorrent abuse. Not only will we continue to support those who are subjected to this, we will work with clubs and authorities to try and bring offenders to justice and do everything we can to eradicate racism.”

October’s No Room For Racism fixtures fall within the UK’s Black History Month, the theme of which is ‘Honouring Our Communities’. During this period, clubs will be celebrating diversity, as well as highlighting programmes that take place on a year-round basis to promote inclusion, tackle discrimination and create opportunities for people from all backgrounds to thrive in football.

Former Newcastle United striker Shola Ameobi, who is now the club’s head of corporate affairs, sits on the Premier League’s Black Participants Advisory Group. The panel of former players and managers helped create the No Room For Racism Action Plan in 2021 and continues to advise the league on matters relating to race and ethnicity.

Ameobi, who also took part in the League’s Player to Executive Pathway Scheme, recently attended an event with Newcastle’s newly formed official supporters’ group, The Black Geordie Club, and spoke about the importance of diversity in all areas of the game.

He said: “I was lucky enough to play for the club I love and have enjoyed holding different roles since retiring. In each of these I have seen the power Newcastle United has in uniting communities, and this is true for all clubs.

“Football has an incredible ability to bring people together and I know how committed the Premier League is to ensuring there is improved diversity in all areas of the game through its No Room For Racism Action Plan.

“There is always more to do, particularly in the fight against discrimination. The league and clubs will continue working together to make a firm stand against racism, while developing inclusivity within the workplace and creating more opportunities for people from all backgrounds.”

You can find out more about No Room For Racism and how to challenge and report racist abuse at premierleague.com/noroomforracism.