Discrimination Reports Surge by 25% in English Football
Kick It Out data reveals significant increases in Islamophobia, homophobia, and anti-Semitism across the 2025-26 season.
Image: Eddie Pollard / AI
Sarah Connor
English football recorded 1,744 reports of discrimination during the 2025-26 season, marking a 25% increase from the previous year's 1,398 incidents.
Discriminatory mass chanting also saw a dramatic 41% increase, leading to 142 reported instances.
Racism reports rose by 19%, sexism by 12%, and ableism by 20%. Samuel Okafor stated with stark certainty that discrimination remains deeply embedded within the sport.
Okafor noted that Britain currently faces a disturbing rise in hate crime and divisive political rhetoric. He also observed a growing willingness among people to confront abuse when they witness it.
Professional players, he highlighted, set a crucial example in standing up to abuse, encouraging others to follow suit.
Anti-immigrant language reports reached 39 in 2025-26, a figure that surpasses the 37 recorded in the previous two years combined. Phrases like “stop the boats” and “send them back” permeate every level of the game.
This growing trend of discriminatory mass chanting at matches has become a concern, with individual cases underscoring the broader, systemic issue.
In March, a 60-year-old man received a suspended sentence for sending offensive messages to England Women defender Jess Carter. Antoine Semenyo also drew attention to the racist abuse he endured throughout the season.
Kick It Out has now delivered its 500th fan education session. The organization reports a reoffending rate of just 1.25% for those who participate in these vital interventions.
Both police and Kick It Out have issued urgent calls for online platforms to increase their efforts to combat abuse. Digital discrimination continues to plague the sport, posing a persistent and insidious challenge.