'Kick It Out' chief Lord Ouseley: 'We need to know reasons behind T-shirt snub'

'Kick It Out' chairman Lord Ouseley has called on the players that refused to wear the anti-racism campaign's T-shirts to explain their "grievances".

A host of Premier League players, including Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, did not take part in the annual tradition following Reading striker Jason Roberts's claims that 'Kick It Out' are not doing enough to combat discrimination in the sport.

"The issue of the T-shirt has become the story," Ouseley told BBC Radio Five Live. "We need to be talking about what are their legitimate grievances.

"You have to move forward in a way to bring closure to the nastiness that is around. The players that have grievances need to bring those to the table."

Manchester City pair Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott were also among the players that refused to wear the T-shirt.