Lived values | Watford FC diversity officer's racist abuse - why DEI can't just be a day job

When a Diversity leader is convicted of racially aggravated abuse, it raises serious questions about who we trust to lead this work. This week, Ebonnie-Rose John-Jules admitted to hurling racial abuse at a Transport for London worker and punched another in the face during an altercation at Southall station.

At the time of the incident in May 2024, the 23-year-old was the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Watford Football Club’s Community Sports & Education Trust.

In court, she admitted telling one of the workers to “go back to your country, you bloody Indians.” She pleaded guilty to both racially aggravated threatening behaviour and assault, and will be sentenced in September.