Kick It Out has recorded an all‑time high of 1,744 discrimination complaints spanning the professional tiers, grassroots football, and online platforms during the inaugural year of its Football United programme. The surge, the charity explains, is partly linked to a noticeable rise in anti‑immigrant rhetoric, but it also reflects the success of newly forged reporting pathways with partner groups such as Her Game Too, the Frank Soo Foundation and Football v Homophobia. These collaborations have given more individuals the confidence to come forward, resulting in over one hundred submissions through the fresh channels alone in the 2025/26 season.
While the headline figure might suggest a worsening of football’s cultural climate, Kick It Out cautions against a simplistic interpretation. The organisation argues that the higher volume of reports actually signals growing trust among diverse communities and stronger links with allies who can help surface incidents that might previously have gone unnoticed.
In the coming 2026/27 season, the charity expects to broaden its network of reporting partners even further, thereby enhancing the reach and effectiveness of its anti‑discrimination work. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, underscored the broader context in which these numbers sit.
"At a time of rising discrimination and where we need action to make the game more inclusive and representative of all communities, football must be more united to take on its challenges," he said. He added that the organisation’s Impact Report shows a year of tangible progress achieved alongside both longstanding and newly‑minted partners. Okafor stressed that continued collaboration will enable Kick It Out to deepen its policy advocacy, campaigning, education, and reporting programmes, ultimately fostering a sport that feels welcoming to everyone.
The Year One Impact Report, released on Tuesday, paints a vivid picture of the scale of the task ahead. It maps the first twelve months of Football United – a five‑year strategic plan launched in September 2025 – which is built around four core ambitions: universal inclusion, representation on the pitch, leadership opportunities off the pitch, and a collective stand against discrimination. The report also highlights a suite of ancillary achievements that demonstrate the breadth of the charity’s work.
Education has been a cornerstone of the strategy. More than 11,000 individuals participated in Kick It Out’s educational sessions, ranging from workshops for young players to seminars for club staff.
The Raise Your Game development programme attracted 583 participants, while 148 people took part in targeted Fan Education initiatives designed to equip supporters with the tools to recognise and challenge abusive behaviour. A notable partnership with Guinness 0.0 extended the charity’s reach into the hospitality sector. Over 3,000 employees of Greene King, the brewery’s parent company, received training on how to spot and respond to discrimination, illustrating how football‑related anti‑bias work can spill over into broader community settings.
The 2025/26 season also marked a historic moment for transparency in the professional game. For the first time, clubs published workforce diversity data under FA Rule N, shedding light on the composition of leadership and staff across the sport. This newfound visibility is expected to drive further accountability and encourage clubs to set concrete targets for inclusion at senior levels. Kick It Out also played an advisory role in shaping policy at the highest level.
Working with more than 20 partner organisations, the charity helped draft proposals submitted to the Independent Football Regulator. These submissions aimed to embed board‑level responsibility for equality, diversity and inclusion, and to establish clear representation targets for club boards and senior management. Beyond policy, the organisation tackled a spectrum of discrimination issues in collaboration with its allies.
Initiatives addressed online abuse, sexism and misogyny, faith‑based prejudice, and the marginalisation of under‑represented groups. These projects combined research, awareness‑raising campaigns, and practical support mechanisms to create safer environments both on‑ and off‑the pitch. Okafor reiterated that this is only the first year of a long‑term plan.
"We know there is so much more to achieve, but we have ambitious plans for the coming season where we will expand grassroots anti‑discrimination education, increase Fan Education delivery with support from the Premier League and grow Raise Your Game," he said. He concluded with a firm declaration of intent: "We are determined to keep building a game where everyone is included, and everyone is united in tackling discrimination wherever it happens." Looking ahead, the charity intends to scale up its grassroots programmes, bringing anti‑bias curricula to more community clubs and schools. The Fan Education component will be bolstered by additional resources from the Premier League, aiming to reach a wider audience of supporters and empower them to intervene when they witness abusive conduct.
The Raise Your Game pathway, which equips aspiring coaches and administrators with leadership skills, will also be expanded to ensure a pipeline of diverse talent for future football governance. In summary, the record number of discrimination reports received by Kick It Out should be read not merely as a symptom of a deteriorating culture, but as evidence of a growing willingness among players, fans, and staff to speak out and seek redress. The combination of enhanced reporting mechanisms, strategic partnerships, and a clear policy framework positions the organisation to drive meaningful change throughout the sport. As the Football United strategy moves into its second year, the focus will remain on deepening education, widening participation, and cementing accountability at every level of the beautiful game.