I had the honour of delivering the opening speech at The Asian Football Awards at Wembley Stadium in September—a night dedicated to celebrating the achievements of South Asians in football and shining a light on the work still ahead. In my speech, I reflected on the progress we’ve made since our last gathering in 2017. From Hamza Choudhury returning to the Premier League to Yan Dhanda thriving in the Scottish Premier League, from Asmita Ale shining in the Women’s Super League to Sunny Singh Gill becoming the first South Asian referee in the Premier League—we’ve seen some truly inspiring milestones. These achievements underscore the undeniable talent within our communities. Yet, they also highlight the stark reality: South Asians remain critically underrepresented at the elite level of football. While participation is high at the grassroots level, barriers to entry at academies and professional pathways persist. This is why representation matters. It’s not just about numbers—it’s ...