Football news - Lord Ouseley leaving Kick It Out role

Speaking in August on the 25th anniversary of the organisation’s founding, Ouseley admitted removing discrimination from football is a task which would never be completed.

He also admitted he was preparing to retire.

He said in August: “There does come a time and I think that time will come certainly within the next 12 months.

“(But) I’ve been here before when I’ve said to people I’ll probably be gone in six months’ time and I’m still here.”

Lord Ouseley said in a statement on Tuesday: "When I set up the Let's Kick Racism Out of Football in 1993, I hoped that the football authorities would take it on board and tackle the problem.

"It proved to be a long haul with a slow process of change in pursuit of equality, inclusion and cohesion.

"Over the past decade, I have indicated my wish each year to step down from the Chair and move on and hand over the reins to younger equality advocates and campaigners, but have always been told that 'not now, this is the wrong time', and no one else has stuck their head above the parapet to lead the organisation.

"Well, now is the right time for new leadership of Kick It Out, as I re-focus my life for new challenges after 56 years of public service."

This time it appears Ouseley will quit, just a few days after the latest incident which required comment from his organisation, when Raheem Sterling was abused during his Manchester City side’s Premier League match at Chelsea last Saturday.