Kick It Out, the charity dedicated to eradicating discrimination in football, has disclosed that it received an unprecedented 1,744 reports of abusive behaviour during the 2025/26 season. This figure marks a 25 per cent rise compared with the previous campaign and pushes the total number of recorded incidents above the 1,000‑mark for the first time, reaching 1,255 distinct cases.
The growth was evident across every sector of the sport. In the professional game, complaints climbed by 41 per cent to 636, while grassroots football saw a similar 41 per cent jump, with 458 reports lodged.
Online abuse also continued its upward trajectory, increasing five per cent to 650 submissions. Racism remained the most prevalent form of discrimination, accounting for 792 reports – roughly 45 per cent of all complaints. The sharpest increase within this category concerned racist abuse directed at participants of South Asian heritage, which doubled year on year.
This surge underscores the particular vulnerability of South Asian players, officials and fans within the football community. Other protected characteristics also hit new highs. The charity recorded record numbers of incidents involving sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, ableism and Islamophobia since it broadened its reporting framework five years ago. Islamophobia showed the steepest climb, with an 88 per cent rise in reported cases.
Mass chanting that incorporated discriminatory language rose 41 per cent, while remarks targeting immigrants doubled compared with the combined total of the two preceding seasons. Abuse aimed at match officials also grew sharply; 97 reports were logged, matching the total received over the previous three seasons, and more than one‑third of these involved sexist attacks on female officials.
Youth football at the grassroots level continued its upward trend for the fifth straight year. Reports concerning players under the age of 18 increased by a third, reaching a record 248 incidents. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, commented: "These figures demonstrate that discrimination is still deeply embedded in football at a time when hate crime and polarising political rhetoric are rising across Britain.
Yet they also reveal that more people are willing to speak out against abuse when they witness it, and it is encouraging to see professional players set that example last season. While we recognise the substantial work already underway to combat discrimination, 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 all forms of discrimination and encourage fans and players to challenge and report any abuse they encounter.
Tackling discriminatory behaviour is a top priority for the league, and we have a suite of initiatives in place, such as the Matchday Observer Programme, the No Room For Racism campaign, and dedicated resources to monitor and address 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 swift and severe consequences, including stadium bans and legal prosecution. Approximately 15 million people attend Premier League matches each season, and the demographic is becoming increasingly diverse, with more women and people from ethnically diverse backgrounds joining every year. We are proud to partner with organisations like Kick It Out to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for all." Analysis from Sky Sports News' Dev Trehan highlighted that discrimination remains a pressing issue both within English football and the wider society.
While reports of sexism (216) and homophobia (203) are significant – the latter rising 46 per cent from the previous year – they together represent only about half the total number of racism reports (792). The statistics are especially concerning for South Asian participants, who have long been under‑represented in the professional game.
The biggest surge in racist reports targeted South Asian individuals, with a 100 per cent increase year on year. Additionally, Islamophobia reports jumped 88 per cent, reflecting a troubling conflation of ethnicity and religion that places brown individuals under heightened scrutiny and abuse.
Dev Trehan’s column, Dev's Digest, aims to correct the narrative surrounding British South Asians in football, noting that the under‑representation of this community is the most striking statistical anomaly in English football, as highlighted by former Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari. The latest data provide a stark explanation for that anomaly, illustrating the hostile environment that persists for South Asians in the sport. The situation calls for urgent action.
Football authorities, clubs, and governing bodies must treat the surge in discriminatory reports as an emergency and implement robust, coordinated strategies to protect players, officials and fans of all backgrounds. This includes stronger sanctions, education programmes, and a commitment to diversity at every level of the game. Sky Sports reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe environment on its digital platforms, urging users to report any hateful content based on race, sex, colour, gender, nationality, ethnicity, disability, religion, sexuality, age or class. Viewers are asked to capture the URL and a screenshot of any abusive post and forward it to the provided email address, reinforcing the broader media industry's role in combating hate.