Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Commitment to Promoting Inclusivity in Football

Sky Sports has extended its partnership with Kick It Out for another year, underscoring their shared dedication to fostering a more welcoming environment in football. This one-year extension marks the sixth year of their collaboration, with a continued investment of £1 million in a combination of cash and value-in-kind support aimed at combating discrimination and creating career opportunities within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has actively supported various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the 'Football United' strategy, a new partnership with Guinness 0.0, the online education platform The Academy, and the Raise Your Game programme. The latter provides young individuals from underrepresented communities with the opportunity to take their first steps in football. The 'Football United' strategy was officially launched in September, with Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville in attendance and Sky Sports News presenter Bela Shah hosting the event. Bela also played a pivotal role in mentoring two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who co-hosted an event for the first time after meeting Bela at Sky Sports Studios. Razaq praised Bela's advice, stating that everything she said was invaluable to him. Furthermore, Sky helped promote Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, aiming to make pubs more welcoming, with Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison attending the launch. This partnership will facilitate the training of thousands of Greene King staff to create more inclusive environments and identify football-related discrimination. In November, Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth hosted Kick It Out's Media Raise Your Game event, where a record number of attendees participated. Additionally, Sky Sports produced a documentary about Kick It Out founder Lord Herman Ouseley, who passed away in October 2024, to educate younger audiences about his impact on the organisation. The documentary was shown on Sky Sports and at England's game against Latvia in March 2025, coinciding with what would have been Lord Ouseley's 80th birthday. Sky's creative team also provided digital support to highlight his legacy on LED screens around Wembley Stadium. This investment is part of Sky's £30 million commitment to addressing structural inequality. Over the past six years, Sky's multimillion-pound investment in Kick It Out has supported several initiatives, including a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has enabled eight candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to graduate with an MBA in Football Industries. It has also included ongoing investment in Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has provided educational content on equality, diversity, and inclusion to almost 5,000 individuals. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, expressed her gratitude to Sky for their continued support, stating that their partnership has provided unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities in football. David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, emphasized the importance of their partnership with Kick It Out in driving a more inclusive and representative game. Sky Sports is committed to maintaining a platform free from abuse, hate, and profanity, and encourages users to report any instances of hate speech. Kick It Out is dedicated to challenging discrimination, promoting inclusive practices, and campaigning for positive change in football. Together, they strive to create a safe space for all fans, celebrating sport for all and all for sport.