England's Football Association sought black player quotas, claims book

Two officials from the Football Association told former England manager Graham Taylor to limit the number of black players in his squad, a new book has claimed

London: Two officials from the Football Association told former England manager Graham Taylor to limit the number of black players in his squad, a new book has claimed.

Graham Taylor

Taylor, who managed England from 1990 to 1993, has denied the claim, made in ‘Pitch Black: The Story of Black British Footballers’, written by Emy Onuora, the brother of former professional footballer Iffy Onuora.

In the book, Onuora says that former Birmingham City striker Richie Moran, spoke to Taylor at an event held by Watford, then managed by Taylor, during the 1999-2000 season.

Moran is quoted as saying: “Graham Taylor said: ‘When I was manager of England I was called in by two members of the FA. I was told in no uncertain terms not to pick too many black players for the national side.” Responding to the claims, Taylor, now 70, said: “It has taken me by complete surprise because I cannot remember anything about it at all.”

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