Sanjay Bhandari, who has served as chair of the anti‑discrimination charity Kick It Out since 2019, has confirmed that he will step down from the role at the conclusion of the 2026/27 football season. After more than seven years at the helm, Bhandari plans to hand over the reins to a successor who will continue to drive the organisation’s ambitious agenda.
During his tenure, Bhandari has overseen a profound transformation of Kick It Out. He helped secure greater financial independence, introduced robust governance structures, and oversaw the complete renewal of the board and senior leadership team. The charity’s internal architecture was also reshaped, with a new team structure that aligns staff more closely with its strategic priorities.
These changes have positioned Kick It Out as a more resilient and influential voice in the fight against racism, discrimination and inequality in football. In 2023 the organisation unveiled a five‑year plan called “Football United,” a blueprint that aims to bring together governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, community groups and commercial partners to create lasting, systemic change across the sport. The strategy was rolled out in the following year, and in 2024 Samuel Okafor was appointed chief executive to steer its implementation.
Under Bhandari’s chairmanship, the charity has made significant progress on several fronts, from policy advocacy to grassroots education. Speaking about his decision to leave, Bhandari said, “It has been a tremendous honour to chair Kick It Out.
Our ‘Football United’ strategy is deliberately built on a vision of bringing together governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, communities and partners to create lasting change. In a world that often feels increasingly negative and divided, we are consciously seeking to strike a different tone.” He added that the incoming chair will be crucial in sustaining the momentum, working closely with the chief executive and an experienced board to keep the organisation at the forefront of equality and inclusion in sport.
Bhandari’s contributions have not gone unrecognised. In 2024 he was awarded an MBE for services to football, acknowledging the impact of his work with the charity since its founding in 1993. The honour reflects both his personal dedication and the broader achievements of Kick It Out under his leadership. The charity will now launch a formal recruitment process to find a new chair, with the aim of selecting a preferred candidate by the end of December 2026.
The chosen individual will work alongside Bhandari for the remainder of the 2026/27 season, ensuring an orderly hand‑over before officially assuming the role on 1 July 2027. This transition period is designed to maintain continuity and give the new chair ample opportunity to understand the organisation’s operations, partnerships, and strategic objectives. The incoming chair will inherit a role that sits at the intersection of sport, social justice and public policy.
Football continues to grapple with issues of inclusion, representation and discrimination both on and off the pitch. Kick It Out has established itself as a leading advocate for policy reform, engaging with the UK government, regulators and the sport’s governing bodies—including the Premier League, the English Football League, the Football Association and the Professional Footballers' Association.
Beyond advocacy, the charity runs a suite of education programmes aimed at fans, club academies and the wider public. Its “Raise Your Game” initiative offers development opportunities for young people, while the organisation’s discrimination‑reporting service remains a vital tool for tracking and responding to abuse. Recent data show that reports of harassment and hate speech continue to rise, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilant monitoring and rapid response. Kick It Out has also broadened its reach through strategic partnerships.
A notable collaboration with Guinness 0.0 has resulted in the training of approximately 4,000 staff members to recognise and challenge discrimination across 900 Greene King sports bars throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Additional alliances with Sky, McDonald’s Fun Football, Visit Tampa Bay and the Morrisons Foundation are helping to expand the charity’s education and inclusion programmes, with a view toward further growth through 2030.
Looking ahead, the organisation is focused on scaling its impact. The “Football United” strategy outlines targets for increasing the number of clubs engaged in anti‑discrimination training, expanding digital education resources, and strengthening the reporting infrastructure to ensure that incidents are logged, investigated and addressed promptly. The new chair will be expected to champion these goals, leveraging relationships with key stakeholders and securing the resources needed to sustain long‑term progress. In summary, Sanjay Bhandari’s departure marks the end of a pivotal chapter for Kick It Out, but also the beginning of a new era.
His legacy includes a more financially secure, well‑governed charity with a clear strategic direction and a growing portfolio of partnerships. As the recruitment process moves forward, the focus will be on finding a leader who shares the belief that football can unite people and who is prepared to shape the future of the game in a way that is inclusive, respectful and free from discrimination.
The charity continues to invite supporters to get involved, whether through volunteering, participating in education sessions or simply staying informed via its reporting platform. As the sport evolves, Kick It Out remains committed to being the voice that pushes for equality, ensuring that football remains a game for everyone, regardless of background, identity or ability.