Kick It Out has disclosed that the 2025/26 season saw an unprecedented 1,744 discrimination reports filed, marking the highest tally ever recorded by the anti‑discrimination charity. This total reflects a 25 per cent jump compared with the previous campaign and pushes the count of documented incidents past the 1,000‑mark for the first time, reaching 1,255 separate cases. The rise was evident across every segment of the sport.
Complaints originating from the professional tiers climbed by 41 per cent, totaling 636 reports, while grassroots football saw a similar 41 per cent surge, with 458 submissions. Online channels also contributed to the increase, with digital reports up five per cent to 650. Racism continued to dominate the landscape, accounting for 792 of the reports – roughly 45 per cent of the overall figure.
The most striking growth within this category was racist abuse directed at individuals of South Asian heritage, which doubled year‑on‑year, representing a 100 per cent increase. Other forms of prejudice also hit new highs. Since Kick It Out broadened its data‑collection framework five years ago, reports of sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, ableism and Islamophobia have all reached record levels.
Islamophobia, in particular, surged dramatically, with an 88 per cent jump in reported incidents. Mass chanting that incorporated discriminatory language rose by 41 per cent, while complaints involving anti‑immigrant slurs doubled when compared with the combined totals of the two preceding seasons.
Abuse aimed at match officials also climbed sharply; 97 reports were logged, matching the total recorded over the previous three seasons, and more than a third of those involved sexist attacks on female officials. Youth football at the grassroots level recorded its fifth straight year of growth in complaints.
Incidents involving players under the age of 18 increased by one‑third, reaching a record 248 reports. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, commented: "These numbers demonstrate that discrimination remains deeply embedded throughout the game, especially at a moment when hate crime and polarising political rhetoric are on the rise across Britain. At the same time, they show that more people are willing to speak out when they witness abuse, and it is encouraging to see professional players leading by example last season. While we recognise the substantial work already being done to combat discrimination in football, we will keep collaborating with football authorities, clubs, leagues, regulators and government to ensure that the courage shown in reporting abuse is matched by clear, consistent action, making the sport welcoming for everyone." A Premier League spokesperson added: "The Premier League and its clubs condemn every form of discrimination, and we urge fans and players to challenge and report abuse wherever it occurs.
Tackling discriminatory behaviour is a top priority for the league, and we have a suite of initiatives in place, including the Matchday Observer Programme, the No Room For Racism campaign, and dedicated resources to monitor and combat online abuse. One incident of discriminatory abuse is one too many, which is why we work closely with clubs, expert partners and the relevant authorities to ensure cases are dealt with swiftly and severely – this can include stadium bans and legal prosecution.
Around 15 million people attend Premier League matches each season, and we are seeing more women and individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds joining the fanbase each year. We are proud to partner with specialist organisations such as Kick It Out to help create a welcoming and supportive environment for everyone." Analysis from Sky Sports News' Dev Trehan highlighted the persistent scale of the problem. While reports of sexism (216) and homophobia (203) remain high – with homophobic incidents up 46 per cent from the previous year – they together still represent only about half of the total racism reports (792). The data is especially alarming for South Asian participants, who experienced the steepest rise in racist abuse, with a 100 per cent increase compared with last season.
Trehan noted that the surge in Islamophobic reports – up 88 per cent – often intersects with the experiences of South Asian players and fans, who are frequently stereotyped as Muslim regardless of their actual faith. This conflation creates a broader target for abuse, reinforcing the perception that brown individuals in football are automatically linked to Islam and consequently face heightened hostility. The column "Dev's Digest" aims to reshape the narrative around British South Asians in football, challenging misconceptions and drawing attention to the systemic barriers they encounter.
Four years ago, Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari warned that the under‑representation of South Asians in the professional game was the most striking statistical anomaly in English football. The latest figures provide concrete evidence of why that disparity persists. Overall, the statistics paint a stark picture: football in England remains an unwelcoming space for many from South Asian backgrounds and other minority groups.
The sport must step up its response, treating the current climate as an emergency that requires coordinated, decisive action from all stakeholders. Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe environment on its digital platforms, urging users to report any hateful content based on race, gender, colour, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, age or class. Viewers are asked to capture the offending URL and screenshot and forward it to the provided email address, ensuring that abusive material can be removed and addressed promptly.