AN equality expert has been appointed as the new chair of Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination organisation, it was announced on Thursday (12).
Bhandari, a lawyer and partner at the accountancy firms KPMG and EY before going on to sit on the Premier League’s equality standard independent panel, succeeds Lord Ouseley, who founded the organisation back in 1993.
“I am absolutely delighted to join the Board of Kick It Out as its chair,” Bhandari said. “I have been a football fan all of my life and a vocal advocate for inclusion. I am passionate about helping football to be a game where people of all backgrounds feel welcome and included from the terraces to the pitch, to the boardroom.”
He added: "I feel honoured to have the opportunity to build on the team's great work over many years, and look forward to setting out my vision for equality in football in the months ahead."
On their new appointment, Kick It Out said Bhandari was an active and recognised leader of equality, diversity and inclusion practice.
"Sanjay is excited to take on the role and is ready to build and expand on the hugely important work Kick It Out has been doing to campaign for equality in football for more than 25 years," the organisation said.
Bhandari's appointment comes following a spate of racist incidents directed towards Premier League and EFL players.
Tammy Abraham, Paul Pogba, Marcus Rashford and Mohamed Salah have all been victims of racist taunts in recent times.
