Kick It Out, the charity dedicated to eradicating discrimination from football, has disclosed that it received a historic total of 1,744 discrimination reports during the 2025/26 season. This figure marks a striking 25 percent rise compared with the previous campaign period and pushes the count of documented incidents over the 1,000‑mark for the first time, reaching 1,255 separate cases. The increase was evident across every segment of the sport. In the professional tiers, complaints grew by 41 percent, climbing to 636 reports, while grassroots football saw a parallel 41 percent jump, with 458 submissions.
Online platforms also reflected a modest rise, with 650 reports – a five percent increase – indicating that digital abuse remains a growing concern. Racism continued to dominate the landscape of reported abuse, accounting for 792 incidents, which represents 45 percent of the total. Nevertheless, the charity also recorded unprecedented numbers for other forms of prejudice. Sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, ableism and Islamophobia all hit record highs, a trend that has emerged since Kick It Out broadened its data‑collection framework five years ago.
One particularly alarming development was the 41‑percent surge in reports of discriminatory mass chanting, a form of coordinated abuse that can amplify hostility in stadiums. Additionally, language targeting immigrants doubled when compared with the combined totals of the two preceding seasons. Abuse directed at match officials also rose sharply, with 97 reports – a volume that matches the total recorded across the previous three seasons. Notably, more than one‑third of these incidents involved sexist attacks on female referees and officials, underscoring the gendered dimension of the problem.
Youth football at the grassroots level continued its upward trajectory, marking the fifth consecutive year of growth. Reports involving players under the age of 18 jumped by a third, reaching a record 248 cases. This pattern suggests that younger participants are increasingly exposed to, and perhaps more willing to report, discriminatory behaviour. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, commented on the data: "These figures show that discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game at a time when we're also seeing rises in hate crime and divisive political rhetoric in Britain.
But they also show that people are more willing to stand up to abuse when they see it, and it's encouraging to see professional players set that example last season. While we recognise that there is a lot of good work ongoing in football to tackle discrimination, we will continue to work with football authorities, clubs, leagues, regulators and government to ensure we match the courage shown to report abuse with clear and consistent action so that football is welcoming to everyone." His remarks highlight both the persistence of prejudice and the growing willingness of fans, players and officials to call it out. The Premier League also issued a statement affirming its zero‑tolerance stance. A spokesperson said: "The Premier League and our clubs condemn all forms of discrimination, and we encourage fans and players to challenge and report abuse wherever they see it.
Tackling discriminatory abuse is a priority for the Premier League, and we have a range of important initiatives in place, including our Matchday Observer Programme, our No Room For Racism campaign and dedicated resources to track and tackle online abuse. One incident of discriminatory abuse is one too many, which is why we work closely with our clubs, expert partners and the relevant authorities to ensure cases are dealt with as swiftly and severely as possible. This can include stadium bans and legal prosecution.
Around 15 million people attend Premier League matches every season, with more women and people from ethnically diverse backgrounds joining every year. We are proud to work with expert organisations, including Kick It Out, to help create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone." Beyond the league, Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to fostering a safe online environment. The broadcaster urged viewers to report hateful comments on its platforms, asking users to capture URLs and screenshots of abusive posts and forward them to a designated email address.
This call to action reflects a broader industry push to curb hate speech across social media and streaming services. The surge in reports, while concerning, also signals a positive shift: more individuals are choosing to speak out against bigotry rather than remain silent. By expanding reporting mechanisms, raising awareness, and partnering with organisations like Kick It Out, football authorities hope to translate these numbers into concrete change—whether through education programmes, stricter penalties for offenders, or increased support for victims.
The ultimate goal remains clear: to ensure that every player, official, and fan can enjoy the beautiful game without fear of discrimination, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, or any other characteristic.