Kick It Out, the charitable organisation dedicated to eradicating discrimination from football, has disclosed that it received an unprecedented 1,744 reports of abusive behaviour during the 2025/26 season. This figure marks a 25 percent jump compared with the previous campaign and pushes the total number of recorded incidents over the 1,000‑mark for the first time, reaching 1,255 separate cases. The rise was evident across every sector of the sport. In the professional ranks, complaints climbed by 41 percent to 636, while grassroots football also saw a 41 percent surge, with 458 reports logged.
Online platforms were not immune either; digital abuse grew by five percent, bringing the total of internet‑based reports to 650. Racism continued to dominate the landscape of discrimination, accounting for 792 of the submissions – roughly 45 percent of all cases. The most striking increase within that category was racist abuse directed at participants of South Asian heritage, which doubled year on year. This 100 percent rise highlights a worrying trend for a community that has long been under‑represented in the professional game.
Other forms of prejudice also hit new highs. Since Kick It Out broadened its reporting framework five years ago, incidents of sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, ableism and Islamophobia have all reached record levels.
Islamophobia, in particular, surged by 88 percent, making it the steepest upward trajectory among the categories tracked. Mass chanting that contained discriminatory language rose by 41 percent, while remarks that targeted immigrants doubled when compared with the combined totals of the two preceding seasons. Abuse aimed at match officials saw a sharp increase as well, with 97 reports – a number that matches the total recorded over the previous three seasons.
Notably, more than one‑third of those complaints involved sexist slurs directed at female referees and officials. Youth football at the grassroots level recorded its fifth straight year of growth in complaints. Reports involving players under the age of 18 rose by a third, reaching a record 248 incidents, underscoring that even the youngest participants are not shielded from hostile 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." A spokesperson for the Premier League echoed similar sentiments, stating: "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." Sky Sports News analyst Dev Trehan offered a broader perspective on the numbers. He noted that while sexism (216 reports) and homophobia (203 reports) remain significant concerns – the latter having risen 46 percent from the previous year – together they constitute less than half of the total racism reports (792). The data paints a stark picture for South Asian participants, who experience a disproportionate share of racist abuse.
Trehan highlighted that the increase in racist reports targeting South Asians rose by 16 percent, effectively doubling the previous year's figure. Moreover, Islamophobia reports surged by 88 percent, underscoring a conflation in the public mind between South Asian identity and Muslim faith, which places brown players under heightened scrutiny. Trehan's column, "Dev's Digest," aims to correct misconceptions and bring attention to the challenges faced by British South Asians in football. He recalled a statement made four years ago by Kick It Out chairperson Sanjay Bhandari, who described the under‑representation of South Asians in the professional game as the most striking statistical anomaly in English football.
The current statistics provide a concrete explanation for that anomaly, revealing a hostile environment that discourages participation. The broader implications are clear: football in England continues to be an unwelcoming arena for people of South Asian descent, and the surge in discriminatory reports signals an emergency that demands urgent action from governing bodies, clubs, and supporters alike. Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to fostering a safe space on its digital platforms.
The network urges anyone who encounters hateful comments – whether based on race, gender, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, age or class – to capture the offending URL and a screenshot, then forward the material to the designated email address provided on the site. By doing so, viewers can help maintain a respectful environment for discussion and debate across all Sky Sports channels.
In summary, the 2025/26 season has exposed both progress and persistent challenges. While more individuals are willing to report abuse, the sheer volume and variety of incidents demonstrate that discrimination remains deeply rooted in English football. Continued collaboration between charities like Kick It Out, the Premier League, clubs, regulators and the wider community will be essential to turn these alarming statistics into a catalyst for lasting change.