Ex-England football manager Taylor refutes racism claims

Former England manager Graham Taylor has refuted claims that two members of the Football Association tried to limit the number of black players in his team.

Taylor said no one from the FA had ever told him what team to pick or to pick fewer black players.

The claim that he was approached by members of the FA has been made in a book by Emy Onuora called “Pitch Black: The Story of Black British Footballers”.

I cannot remember anything about it at all Graham Taylor

The author is the brother of Iffy Onuora, the former Huddersfield, Swindon and Gillingham striker.

Mr Onuora writes that Richie Moran, a former Birmingham striker who became an anti-racism campaigner after facing abuse in his career, spoke to Taylor at an event held in the 1999-2000 season by Watford Football Club.

Moran is quoted as saying: “Graham Taylor came up to me and said: ‘Look, I’m going to tell you something … I’m never going to admit it, I will be sued for libel.’ He said: ‘When I was manager of England I was called in by two members of the FA, who I won’t name …’ I volunteered two names. He said: ‘I’m not prepared to say, but I was told in no uncertain terms not to pick too many black players for the national side.”‘

‘Complete surprise’

Taylor was manager of Watford at the time, but he managed England from after the 1990 World Cup until November 1993.

When asked about the claims, Taylor told BBC Radio Five Live: “Certainly never during my time at the Football Association I had no FA people coming up to me and telling me which team to pick and to pick less black players. I would have remembered that.”

“It has taken me by complete surprise because I cannot remember anything about it at all,” he added.

Taylor told the Guardian he could not remember the conversation with Moran.

He said: “That is not me trying to evade it – and it also doesn’t mean I didn’t say it – but if anyone looks at my record with club and country it would be obvious to everyone anyway that I didn’t follow what was apparently said. If anyone looks at my record, I could never be accused of blocking the way for any black player.”

In the BBC radio interview Taylor added: “I have no memory of that conversation [with Moran]. There certainly was an event at Watford. I can remember that, but I certainly have no memory of a conversation about black players.”

‘No problems’ from FA

Commenting on the possibility of any conversation with FA members about restricting black players, he added: “That is one of the things you’re never going to forget. I’m so annoyed about it.

“They’ve gone ahead – as I understand it, what I’ve said to them privately has just got out. Or what I’m accused of saying to them privately, which I deny and can’t remember it, they’ve gone out publicly and said it and yet they’re saying themselves it was said to them privately.

“Oh it’s very private then to publish a book about it, isn’t it?

“There was never any interruption, there was never anyone coming in and asking, ‘Why have you selected him?’

“I never had any problems regarding team selection concerning black players from the Football Association.”

Taylor introduced several black players to the England squad during his tenure, and appointed England’s first black captain, Paul Ince.