Isle of Man FA chairman Stephen Carter says that racist abuse towards high-profile footballers could be discouraging people in the island from taking up the sport.

His comments follow the launch of a survey by the IoMFA which aims to gather data on discrimination in the game.

It will go out to all high school students and help to form an inclusion and diversity strategy.

The document is being circulated in conjunction with activist group People of Colour Isle of Man and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture and will be live for four weeks.

It comes after Rushen United striker Furo Davies approached the IoMFA to discuss his experiences in the game.

Mr Carter hopes the survey will allow Manx football’s governing body to fully understand all the issues surrounding discrimination in the sport.

A number of English Premier League players have reported racist abuse on social media in recent months.

’Social media plays such a big part in this . Of course it might not be face-to-face discrimination that’s happening. It could be bullying, it could be anything like that done on social media’, Mr Carter said.

He added: ’Understanding [social media] through our safeguarding standards is to ensure that we have got the right environment for people to play in, to coach in, to referee in, and that everyone feels protected within that.’

Mr Davies, who works as a teacher at Ballakermeen High School, says the survey is just the start in creating a better environment for all.

’I’ve been really impressed with the FA and I didn’t expect it to be honest,’ he said.

’They’ve been really open and very transparent in how we move forward.

’They understand that this is just a starting point. It’s not that we’re just looking at race.

’I think there’s a potential for [looking at] homophobia, sexism, for problems with disabilities, so I think Isle of Man FA seem to be really conscious about these things and trying to make it a better and safer and more inclusive sport,’ Mr Davies continued:

’It’s hard to say it’s a big problem.

’I think it’s a societal problem which is evident from the amount of abuse that some football players are receiving.

’I think within football itself, on the Isle of Man, it’s hard to say, because the population of black or minority ethnic groups isn’t very high. That doesn’t mean that racist things aren’t said.’

Asked what he hopes the diversity and inclusion survey will achieve, he said: ’I think it’s just a starting point really.

’I think [there could be] safeguarding workshops to help create a better environment for people, or safeguarding officers within each club so that people feel confident to take their reports or their experiences to the safeguarding officer, and to give people the tools and understanding to know what it might involve, and what is and isn’t acceptable.’

The survey is at www.isleofmanfa.com under ’news’.