A NEW Football Association drive to increase the number of Asian players in the game has been backed by a Manningham-based project.

The FA's Bringing Opportunities to Communities project has announced it will look to boost the number of Asian players, referees and coaches in football over the next four years.

The FA has set a target of ten per cent of BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) registered referees and ten per cent BAME coaches.

It has been built around the next four football seasons, starting in August.

One such project which is already leading the way for Asian inclusion in football is United Youth Forum.

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This is a youth organisation which provides social and educational activities to youngsters aged three to 17, living in the Manningham area.

The group offers football activities at Manningham Sports Centre, Carlisle Road.

It holds weekly football sessions for around 150 youngsters, 90 per cent of which are Asian.

More than 1,000 young Asians have played football through the project, which also has several Asian coaches.

The project also subsidises regular trips to watch Bradford City and Manchester United.

Khalil Hussain, project leader of the United Youth Forum, says the FA could learn from his scheme in Manningham.

He said: "It's scandalous that there are not more Asian footballers. It saddens me.

"There needs to be more help with this from the clubs and the parents. They need to be told that children can go and make a career out of this.

"I welcome the FA's plan. It would be fantastic if we can get more Asians into football, then why not?

"I think the FA should come and see what we are doing in Manningham with this project. We work in partnership with Bradford City and the Kick it Out scheme.

"Manningham is predominantly an Asian area.

"When Zesh Rehman played for Bradford City I took 200 kids to watch him and see that there were players from ethnic minority backgrounds playing football."

Bradford City co-chairman Mark Lawn said: "Anything that can be done to improve it, has got to be good. I welcome the plan.

"The more diversion in grassroots, the better."

But Zesh Rehman, a Pakistan international defender who played for Bradford City in 2009 and 2010, is cynical about the FA plan.

Rehman, 31, who is currently playing in Malaysia, tweeted on Friday: "Same old talk, not much concrete work done where it matters!"

English football's Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Action Plan aims to implement programmes to increase the number of Asian boys and girls playing football.

It will also look to offer talent development programmes aimed at Asian women, girls and boys through community development centres and county Football Associations.

This followed eight consultation sessions, held across the country including in Bradford, which took place in August and September last year.