McGrath likes the new anti racism initiative by the FAI

Chris Hughton was the first mixed race player to represent Ireland followed by Paul McGrath when he made his debut against Italy in 1985. He represented his country on 83 occasions in a long and remarkable International career. With two top class tournaments in the 1990 and 1994 World Cup behind him where he was voted into FIFA team of the tournament

The Ireland McGrath lives in is completely alien place with 1 in ten of those living in the country have a nationality other than Irish a figure which has nearly doubled since 2002. Discrimination and racism still exists in Irish society and McGrath is delighted that the FAI have tried to challenge racism.

"This has been planned down to last detail and its clear that Chief Executive John Delaney and his staff at the FAI have put a lot of thinking into it. "Racism in the game has been around for so long," admitted the former Irish defender. "However, this is a great initiative to get the awareness of the issue started.

"I think this plan will at least lessen the incidence of racism. It won't eradicate it altogether because there will always be an element attempting to bring the game down and undo the good work done by the majority of people.
"When I came into game, I was always getting called something from the terraces. The options were to either accept it or climb into the terraces to deal with it which I wasn't about to do.

"What it did was make me try harder to shut them up and maybe that helped my career. Hopefully, people of other races in Ireland today can look back on my career and think, if Paul can do it, why can't I?".

McGrath thought the idea of adding different ethnic groups to football was a great move by the FAI.

He said

"Ireland such a multi-cultural society now," he stressed. "I'm sure there are an awful lot of good players out there itching to get involved with local teams but are possibly a bit frightened to think they might be subjected to abuse.

"With Ireland being Ireland, I'm confident they will be accepted and welcomed into teams. Players from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds would enhance teams too and that's got be a good thing for soccer and society as a whole."

The FAI took the lead a year ago in terms of commitment to inter-culturalism by being the first National Governing Body to appoint a full-time National Co-ordinator to oversee this area.

The strategy is to deal with four main areas

1. To combat 'racism' in football

2.To promote participation among minority ethnic and multicultural communities

3.To develop a culture of football that is dynamic and globally competitive

4.To contribute to the wider process of integration.