Sanjay Bhandari, who has served as the chair of the anti‑discrimination charity Kick It Out since his appointment in 2019, announced that he will vacate the post at the conclusion of the 2026/27 football season. After more than seven years at the helm, Bhandari said it was time for fresh leadership to take the organisation forward. During his tenure, Bhandari presided over a period of profound change. He steered the charity toward greater financial self‑sufficiency, introduced a robust governance framework, and oversaw the complete renewal of the board and senior management team.
Under his guidance the internal structure was reshaped to better support the charity’s expanding remit. In 2023 Kick It Out unveiled a new five‑year plan called “Football United,” a strategy designed to unite governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, community groups and commercial partners around a shared vision of lasting cultural transformation in the sport.
The following year, Samuel Okafor was appointed chief executive, adding fresh energy to the implementation of the plan. 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.” He added that in an era that often feels increasingly negative and divided, the charity is deliberately choosing a more positive tone.
“The new chair will play a pivotal role in helping Kick It Out deliver that vision, by leading an experienced and committed Board, and working closely with our chief executive to represent an organisation that has become one of the most respected voices for equality and inclusion in sport,” he explained. Bhandari highlighted the unique opportunity the role offers: “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.” In recognition of his contributions, Bhandari was awarded an MBE in 2024 for services to football through his work with the charity, which was founded in 1993 to combat racism and discrimination in the game. Kick It Out has now opened a formal recruitment process, aiming to identify a preferred candidate by the end of December 2026. The incoming chair will work alongside Bhandari for the remainder of the 2026/27 season to ensure a smooth hand‑over, with the official start date set for 1 July 2027.
The successor will inherit a role that sits at the intersection of several pressing challenges. Football continues to grapple with issues of inclusion and representation both on the pitch and behind the scenes, and discrimination remains a persistent problem. Kick It Out has become 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 policy work, the charity runs a suite of education programmes aimed at fans, club academies and online audiences.
Its “Raise Your Game” initiative offers development opportunities for individuals seeking to become agents of change within football. The organisation’s discrimination‑reporting service remains a cornerstone of its work, tracking a steady rise in reported abuse and providing support to victims.
In recent years Kick It Out has broadened its reach through strategic partnerships. A notable collaboration with Guinness 0.0 has resulted in the training of roughly 4,000 staff members to recognise and confront 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 set to expand the charity’s education and inclusion programmes as part of its 2030 strategic horizon.
Looking ahead, the new chair will be expected to build on these foundations, guiding Kick It Out through a period of growth while tackling the ongoing challenges of racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of prejudice in football. The role will involve close collaboration with the board, the chief executive, and a wide network of partners to ensure that the sport becomes a more welcoming environment for all participants. Bhandari’s departure marks the end of an era, but also the beginning of a new chapter for Kick It Out. As the organisation continues to champion equality and inclusion, the forthcoming leadership transition is poised to sustain momentum and drive further progress toward a more inclusive future for the beautiful game.