England manager Gareth Southgate says people from black, Asian and ethnic minorities have to be able to believe they can get opportunities in the game.
Protests following the death of American George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer, have focused attention to the broader issue of racism across society.
A number of people have spoken out about the lack of opportunities in football for people from a BAME background, with Raheem Sterling a leading voice, citing how easy it has been for Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard to get top management jobs ahead of Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole.
Southgate says it has been uncomfortable to listen, but is a conversation that needs to be heard.
"People have spoken brilliantly over the last week, people I have had the good fortune to meet and work with, people like Troy Townsend, people like Chris Grant, people like David Olusoga, there are some really powerful messages and a lot of those will be uncomfortable for white people in particular, but they are critical voices to be heard.
"I do feel there is a moment for change but I'm also conscious that we've kind of been here before.
"But I think there are generations of people now who are saying hang on a second, we've lived through this, I've seen my kids live through this, I'm not prepared to see my grandkids live through it.
"And the other people who have seen their parents and grandparents live through it, who just aren't prepared to accept [it] and rightly so."
