A life-size Subbuteo ref is being planned at site of first modern game. But a councillor says it would not represent minorities and women. Two statues, costing three times as much, have been mooted as alternative. Chairman of Cambridge City says issue is ‘silly’.
Plans to erect a life-size Subbuteo style referee statue at the Cambridge park where the first game with modern rules was played have hit a snag after a councillor worried it may not represent minorities
A plan to mark the birthplace of modern football with a statue has fallen foul of political correctness with questions over what race and sex it should be.
Councillors want to erect a life-size Subbuteo-style referee in the Cambridge park known as Parker’s Piece where students played the first game of soccer with proper rules.
The £142,000 figure was due to be erected to mark this year’s 150th anniversary of the founding of the Football Association.
But the project has been put on hold because issues have been raised about the model’s skin colour and sex.
One councillor questioned plans to base the statue on a white man, saying it does not represent the racial minorities and women involved in the modern game.
There has even been a discussion about making two statues – at three times the cost – to make sure no-one is offended.
But local football bosses have condemned the row as pointless ‘political correctness’.
The disagreement means the 6’7” statue will not be completed until 2014 at the earliest – a year too late for the FA anniversary.
The race row emerged when minutes from a Cambridge City Council meeting in June were released.
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