Liverpool Football Club have been awarded with the highest accolade from the Premier League for their commitment to equality.
The Club achieved the Premier League Equality Standard Advanced Level and are the first club to do so since the Standard transferred to the Premier League from equality and inclusion organisation, Kick It Out, in 2015.
It includes three levels of achievement: Preliminary, Intermediate and Advanced - reflecting current equality legislation and case law, and providing a framework to guide professional football clubs towards achieving equality.
Some of the highlights commended by the Premier League included: the commitment of Liverpool’s leadership to equity and diversity; the development of inclusive policy and procedures and community initiatives.
Andy Hughes, Liverpool’s Chief Operating Officer, said: "Receiving the Premier League’s Equality Standard Advanced Level is a great achievement for us and is the result of a lot of hard work by our staff.
See: LFC leads the way in equality "We are passionate about equality and committed to promoting and continually developing it across all areas of the football club.
"Having held the Intermediate Level of the Standard since March 2014, this progress demonstrates our ongoing commitment, strong values and clear plan to equality and diversity.”
Premier League Executive Director William Bush, pictured above with former Liverpool midfielder Gary McAllister (left) and managing director Billy Hogan (right), added: "They are the first professional football club to achieve this level of the Premier League Equality Standard and deserve huge credit for the work they have carried out to meet the requirements.
"The Premier League commends Liverpool on their commitment to continuous improvement with regards to equality across all areas of the club’s activity."
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