Kick It Out has disclosed that it logged an unprecedented 1,744 discrimination complaints during the 2025/26 football season, marking a 25 per cent jump from the previous campaign. This surge also pushed the total count of documented incidents past the 1,000‑mark for the first time, reaching 1,255 separate cases. The rise was evident across every tier of the sport.
Complaints originating from the professional game and the grassroots level both climbed dramatically, each up 41 per cent, bringing the professional tally to 636 and the grassroots figure to 458. Online abuse reports also grew, albeit more modestly, increasing by five per cent to 650 submissions. Racism continued to dominate the landscape of reported abuse, accounting for 792 complaints – roughly 45 per cent of all cases.
The most striking growth within that category was racist vilification directed at individuals of South Asian heritage, which doubled year on year, representing a 100 per cent increase. Other forms of prejudice also hit record levels since Kick It Out broadened its data‑collection framework five years ago. Reports of sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, ableism and Islamophobia all reached new highs. Islamophobic incidents surged the most dramatically, with an 88 per cent jump in reported cases.
Mass chanting that contained discriminatory language rose by 41 per cent, while complaints involving anti‑immigrant slurs doubled compared with the combined total of the two preceding seasons. Abuse aimed at match officials showed a sharp rise as well; 97 reports were logged, matching the total recorded over the previous three seasons, and more than one‑third of those involved sexist attacks on female referees and officials. At the grassroots level, youth football continued its upward trajectory for the fifth year running.
Reports concerning players under the age of 18 climbed by a third, culminating in a record 248 incidents involving young athletes. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, commented on the findings: "These numbers demonstrate that discrimination remains deeply woven into the fabric of football, especially at a time when hate crime and polarising political rhetoric are on the rise across Britain. Yet they also reveal a growing willingness among fans, players and officials to call out abuse when they witness it. It is encouraging to see professional players leading by example last season." He added, "While we acknowledge the substantial work already underway to combat discrimination in football, we will keep collaborating with governing bodies, clubs, leagues, regulators and government agencies.
Our aim is to ensure that the bravery shown by those who report abuse is matched by clear, consistent action, making the sport a welcoming space for everyone." A spokesperson for the Premier League echoed these sentiments, stating: "The Premier League and its clubs condemn all forms of discrimination and urge fans and players to challenge and report any abuse they encounter. Tackling discriminatory behaviour is a top priority for us, and we have implemented a suite of initiatives, including the Matchday Observer Programme, the No Room For Racism campaign, and dedicated resources to monitor and combat online abuse." The league further emphasized its commitment to swift and severe responses, noting that "one incident of discriminatory abuse is one too many," and that sanctions can range from stadium bans to legal prosecution.
With around 15 million spectators attending Premier League matches each season and a growing demographic of women and ethnically diverse supporters, the league highlighted its partnership with specialist organisations such as Kick It Out to foster an inclusive environment. Sky Sports News analyst Dev Trehan provided additional context, observing that while reports of sexism (216) and homophobia (203) are notable – the latter up 46 per cent from the previous year – they together account for less than half of the total racism reports (792). He pointed out that the most alarming trend concerns South Asian participants, who experienced a 100 per cent increase in racist abuse, and that Islamophobic complaints rose by 88 per cent. Trehan noted that the conflation of South Asian identity with Muslim identity often places brown players under heightened scrutiny and hostility.
Trehan’s column, Dev's Digest, aims to reshape the narrative surrounding British South Asians in football and to highlight the systemic challenges they face. He recalled that four years ago, Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari told Sky Sports that the under‑representation of South Asians in the professional game was the single biggest statistical anomaly in English football.
The current data, he argues, help explain why that anomaly persists. The broader implication, according to Trehan, is that English football remains an unwelcoming arena for individuals of South Asian descent, and that urgent, coordinated action is required to address what he describes as an "English football emergency." Sky Sports reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining a comment and debate space free from hate, abuse, and profanity across its website and social media platforms.
The outlet urged readers who encounter hateful content based on race, gender, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexuality, age, or class to capture the offending URL and screenshot, then forward the evidence to the provided email address for further action.