Sky Sports and Kick It Out Renew Their Partnership

Sky Sports has extended its partnership with Kick It Out for another year, reaffirming their shared dedication to creating a more welcoming environment in football. The one-year extension marks the sixth year of their collaboration, with a continued £1m investment in a combination of financial and value-in-kind support aimed at tackling discrimination and fostering career opportunities within the sport. Over the past year, Sky Sports has actively supported various Kick It Out initiatives, including the launch of the organisation's new 'Football United' strategy, its partnership with Guinness 0.0, the online education platform The Academy, and the Raise Your Game programme. This programme provides young individuals from underrepresented communities with the opportunity to take their first steps in the football industry. Kick It Out's 'Football United' strategy was 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 crucial role in mentoring two Raise Your Game delegates, Elliott-Jay Henry and Razaq Folarin, who co-hosted their first event after meeting Bela at the Sky Sports Studios in Osterley. Razaq praised Bela's guidance, stating that her advice was invaluable. Sky Sports also helped promote Kick It Out's partnership with Guinness 0.0, which aims to make pubs more welcoming, with Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison attending the launch event at a Greene King pub in Westminster. This partnership will provide training for thousands of Greene King staff to create more inclusive environments and identify football-related discrimination. Additionally, Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth hosted Kick It Out's Media Raise Your Game event at UCFB's Wembley campus, where producer Maryam Chaudhary and reporter Chris Reidy led a workshop for a record number of attendees. Sky Sports also 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 over the past 30 years. 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 provided digital support to highlight his legacy on LED screens around Wembley Stadium. Funded through Sky's £30m commitment to addressing structural inequality, the investment in Kick It Out has supported several initiatives over the past six years. These include a joint scholarship programme with the University of Liverpool Management School, which has enabled eight candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to earn an MBA in Football Industries. Furthermore, there has been ongoing investment in Kick It Out's digital learning platform, The Academy, which has delivered educational content on equality, diversity, and inclusion to nearly 5,000 individuals. Hollie Varney, COO of Kick It Out, stated: 'Our partnership with Sky has grown over the past six years, providing unique education and development opportunities for underrepresented communities in football. This aligns with the heart of our new 'Football United' strategy, where we aim to create an industry that reflects the talent present both on and off the pitch and ensures everyone in the game stands up against discrimination.' David Carrigan, Group Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing at Sky, said: 'Kick It Out has been a vital partner in driving forward a more inclusive and representative game. Extending this partnership reflects our long-term commitment to tackling structural inequality in football, not just through funding, but by utilising Sky's platform and influence to create opportunities, amplify voices, and challenge discrimination wherever it exists.' Together, they are working towards building a game that truly reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. Sky Sports is dedicated to maintaining its website and social media channels as a space for comment and debate that is free from abuse, hate, and profanity. If you encounter any hateful content, please report it by copying the URL, taking a screengrab, and emailing it to the provided address. Kick It Out is the football equality and inclusion organisation, working across the football, educational, and community sectors to challenge discrimination, promote inclusive practices, and campaign for positive change. By working together, they strive to create a safe space for all fans on their social media accounts, celebrating sport for all and all for sport, unimpeded by hate.