Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho insisted "there is no racism in football" after apparently rejecting calls for the introduction of the Rooney Rule in English football.
Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor claims "there is a hidden racism which holds clubs back" with the appointment of black and ethnic minority managers.
Only two out of 92 clubs in English football's top four divisions employ a black manager after Chris Powell took charge of Huddersfield and Keith Curle joined Carlisle last month and Taylor this week called for English football to adopt the Rooney Rule.
The Rooney Rule is used in the NFL to ensure ethnic minority candidates are adequately represented in the interview process for head coaching positions.
When asked if he felt football was doing enough to bring in black managers and whether he felt a quota should happen, Mourinho said: "There is no racism in football.
"If you are good, you are good. If you are good, you get the job.
"If you are good, you prove that you deserve the job.
"Football is not stupid to close the doors to top people.
"If you are top, you are top," added the Portuguese, speaking at his weekly press conference ahead of Sunday's match with Arsenal.
Football's anti-discrimination group Kick It Out would not respond specifically to Mourinho's comments but called on the Premier League and FA to state their position on the Rooney Rule.
A statement from Kick It Out said: "Kick It Out was invited to 10 Downing Street by the Prime Minister for an anti-discrimination summit with football's leaders and a number of former players in February 2012. A clear pledge was made at this meeting to tackle the lack of diversity when it comes to positions off-the-field. What steps have we seen taken by those in power to address this under-representation following this?
"The implementation of the Rooney Rule has been talked about at different times since then in relation to management and coaching jobs, and there does not appear to be any serious action or other initiative which may lead to an equitable outcome.
"Gordon Taylor speaks about a 'hidden resistance' within the game and his members are asking questions about where football stands. We hear the Football League has failed to raise the issue at its own AGM but where are the Premier League and The Football Association on this matter?"
Source: PA
