Sanjay Bhandari, who has served as chair of the anti‑discrimination charity Kick It Out since his appointment in 2019, announced that he will vacate the position 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 the organisation's mission of promoting equality and inclusion across the sport.
During his tenure, Bhandari presided over a period of substantial transformation for Kick It Out. He helped steer the charity toward greater financial independence, strengthening its governance structures and ensuring that the board and senior leadership were refreshed with new talent. In fact, the entire board and executive team were replaced under his watch, and a re‑designed organisational hierarchy was introduced to improve efficiency and impact. One of the most notable milestones of his chairmanship was the launch of the five‑year "Football United" strategy in 2023.
The plan, which was rolled out last year, sets out a vision of uniting governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, community groups and commercial partners around a shared goal of lasting cultural change within football. The strategy emphasises collaborative action, education, and the use of data‑driven insights to combat discrimination in all its forms. In parallel with the strategic rollout, the charity appointed Samuel Okafor as chief executive in 2024. Okafor’s arrival marked a new chapter for the organisation, providing fresh leadership to operationalise the Football United agenda.
Bhandari praised Okafor’s appointment, noting that the partnership between chair and chief executive would be crucial for delivering on the ambitious objectives set out in the strategy. Reflecting on his time in the role, 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 would have a pivotal role in realising this vision, working closely with the board and the chief executive to maintain Kick It Out’s reputation as one of the most respected voices for equality in sport. "This is a unique opportunity for someone who believes in the power of football to bring people together and who wants to help shape the future of the nation's game," Bhandari said. Bhandari’s contributions to football were recognised in 2024 when he was awarded an MBE for services to the game, acknowledging his work with the charity since its founding in 1993.
The honour underscored the impact of his leadership on policy advocacy, grassroots education and the broader cultural shift toward inclusion. Following Bhandari’s departure, Kick It Out will launch a formal recruitment process aimed at identifying a preferred candidate by the end of December 2026. The new chair is expected to work alongside Bhandari throughout the remainder of the 2026/27 season, ensuring an orderly hand‑over before formally assuming the role on 1 July 2027.
The incoming leader will inherit a complex landscape. While the charity has made significant strides, challenges remain in making football more representative both on and off the pitch. Discrimination continues to be reported at alarming rates, and the organisation’s reporting service remains a critical tool for tracking abuse.
The new chair will need to guide Kick It Out as it tackles these issues, collaborates with governing bodies such as the Premier League, the EFL, the FA and the PFA, and pushes for policy reforms at the governmental level. Kick It Out’s work extends beyond advocacy. It delivers a suite of education programmes aimed at supporters, club academies and online audiences.
Its "Raise Your Game" initiative provides development opportunities for individuals seeking to become agents of change within the sport. Moreover, the charity’s partnership with Guinness 0.0 has enabled the training of around 4,000 staff across 900 Greene King sports bars in England, Scotland and Wales to recognise and confront discrimination.
Strategic partnerships also feature prominently in the charity’s growth plans. Collaborations with Sky, McDonald’s Fun Football, Visit Tampa Bay and the Morrisons Foundation are designed to expand the reach of education and inclusion programmes through to 2030. These alliances help to embed anti‑discrimination messaging in a variety of settings, from broadcast media to community events. Looking ahead, Kick It Out aims to consolidate its position as a leading voice for equality in sport while scaling up its impact.
The organization plans to enhance its data collection capabilities, refine its reporting mechanisms, and broaden its educational curricula to address emerging forms of discrimination, including online abuse and micro‑aggressions. By leveraging technology, expanding partnerships, and fostering a culture of accountability across clubs and governing bodies, the charity hopes to drive systemic change that will benefit future generations of players and fans. In summary, Sanjay Bhandari’s upcoming departure marks the end of a transformative era for Kick It Out.
His leadership has seen the charity evolve into a financially robust, well‑governed entity with a clear strategic direction. The forthcoming recruitment process will seek a successor capable of building on this foundation, steering the organisation through ongoing challenges, and championing the belief that football can unite people across all walks of life.