Women's football has been criticised for its lack of diversity, but the Professional Footballers' Association is helping clubs to change that - including Aston Villa.

Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall said his team's lack of diversity "was a problem" following criticism on social media after an all-white squad photo was posted in October.

England have also faced criticism, with England manager Sarina Wiegman saying in February she hoped the talent pool could "represent more the diversity of our community".

So what is the Women's Super League doing? BBC Sport attended an event at Aston Villa, hosted by the PFA, to see how it is promoting diversity and equal opportunities.

'It shouldn't matter where you come from'

In 2021 it was estimated that the proportion of black, Asian and minority players in the WSL was between 10 and 15%.

Hoping to address that, former England international Fern Whelan, the PFA's first women's equality executive, has teamed up with WSL clubs to lead training sessions for young girls in inner-city communities.

As part of their aim to increase diversity, they are trying to showcase role models at top WSL clubs and have been joined by Manchester City duo Khadija Shaw and Demi Stokes and Aston Villa's Ebony Salmon and Maz Pacheco.

"Every young girl should get equal opportunity to play the game. Representation is important and we want to widen the talent pool as much as we can," Whelan told BBC Sport.

"I want young girls to see there are pathways for them, no matter what. I wouldn't want anyone to look at football and think it's an exclusive place. It should be as inclusive as possible."

Salmon and Pacheco joined in the training session at Villa's academy centre in Birmingham, where about 60 young girls received coaching.

England striker Ebony Salmon rejoined Villa from Houston Dash this summer

"There wasn't a huge amount of black people (playing) when I was growing up," England striker Salmon told BBC Sport.

"It's important for young girls to see that. One thing they do look at is people like them, who inspire them, to be like them.

"We've seen recently that diversity in the women's game isn't where it's meant to be, but it's definitely growing. When I look at where I was as a kid playing, you see more and more now.

"Initiatives like this are so important for these girls to see that there is somewhere for them to get to and there are role models like them higher up and at the top level, where they want to be."

Pacheco said her family "stood out like a sore thumb" growing up, but she hopes to be a role model for young girls.

"It shouldn't matter where you come from, the colour of your skin or the religion - we should all have an equal opportunity to play in football. That's what makes football beautiful," she said.

'I was playing under a black manager'

The events at City and Villa are just some of the ways in which the WSL is hoping to increase diversity.

Arsenal have worked with the PFA's Asian Inclusion Mentoring Scheme

to provide workshops for South Asian players between the ages of nine and 16 - something Villa will host later this season as they focus on diversity at grassroots level.

Manager Carla Ward said Villa were "doing their very best" to increase diversity and that the squad is "well represented".

Pacheco, who runs an independent football academy, said: "It's definitely getting there. The more women's football grows and the more serious clubs take academies, the more money will funnel into it.

"It's a learning curve for a lot of the professional teams. There's been people from the men's side learning about the women's side of things, which is exactly what we want. I know here at Villa everyone is very passionate about that and that's good to see."

Maz Pacheco scored the opener for Villa in a 2-1 defeat by Arsenal at Emirates Stadium this season

Whelan hopes by focusing on academy football, providing better access and targeting inner-city areas, women's football will benefit with more diversity "throughout the whole pathway".

"There is diversity coming through the younger age groups now. But, from a role model perspective, it's about trying to shine a positive light on those we already have in the WSL," said Whelan.

"The era I played in, there were players like England internationals Rachel Yankey and Mary Phillip. I was playing under a black manager in Hope Powell. There was a lot of diversity in the game and we've crept away from it a little bit.

"The game has professionalised. There's not enough access for young girls to be able to play football. Having things like this at Aston Villa is attracting a different type of player. If we all come together, we can increase diversity in the game."

'We need to keep asking questions'

Whelan said the PFA is working with clubs to "help guide them" on ways in which they can target more players.

She hopes recent events at City, Arsenal and Villa will push other clubs to ask what they can do.

"A lot of them we speak to are already thinking about it and putting things in place. They just need those little reminders to have it at the forefront of their minds," said Whelan.

"It's not just a one-club problem; it's a whole game-wide problem. I don't think we're blind to it. It's socio-economic backgrounds too, not just diversity or the colour of their skin. It's also what they can afford and how you can help those people."

Salmon says it is good that WSL clubs are still being challenged and criticised as it reminds them to focus on diversity.

"If we stop asking questions it will be an issue that stops being considered. We need to keep asking those questions until we see it grow even more," said Salmon.