Kick It Out has logged 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 organisation explains, is partly driven by a noticeable rise in anti‑immigrant rhetoric, but it also reflects the impact of stronger reporting links with partner groups such as Her Game Too, the Frank Soo Foundation and Football v Homophobia, which have encouraged more individuals to come forward. During the 2025/26 season, over one hundred of those complaints were submitted through these newly established channels, underscoring the value of collaborative reporting frameworks.
While the raw figure may appear alarming, Kick It Out cautions against interpreting it solely as a sign of cultural decline within the sport. Instead, the data points to growing confidence among diverse communities to report incidents and to the organisation’s success in forging tighter relationships with key stakeholders.
Looking ahead, the network of reporting partners is set to expand further in the 2026/27 season, a move that should continue to boost both the volume and the accuracy of recorded incidents. Samuel Okafor, chief executive of Kick It Out, commented on the findings: "At a time when discrimination is on the rise and the game needs decisive action to become more inclusive and representative of all communities, football must stand united to meet these challenges." He added, "Our Impact Report demonstrates a year of progress achieved alongside existing and new partners.
Yet we recognise that deeper collaboration will enable us to strengthen our policy work, campaigning, education and reporting initiatives, ultimately making football a more welcoming space for everyone." The Year One Impact Report, released on Tuesday, paints a vivid picture of the scale of the task ahead as Kick It Out strives to embed inclusion across every level of the sport. The report reviews the first twelve months of Football United – a five‑year strategy launched in September 2025 with four overarching objectives: universal inclusion, representation on the pitch, leadership opportunities off the pitch, and a collective stand against discrimination. Key achievements highlighted in the report include: - Over 11,000 individuals participated in Kick It Out’s education programmes, ranging from workshops for coaches to community outreach sessions.
- 583 participants completed the Raise Your Game development scheme, a programme designed to nurture leadership and coaching skills among under‑represented groups. - 148 people took part in Fan Education initiatives aimed at equipping supporters with the tools to recognise and challenge discriminatory behaviour.
A notable partnership with Guinness 0.0 extended the organisation’s reach into the hospitality sector. More than 3,000 staff members at Greene King pubs received training on how to spot and respond to discrimination, demonstrating the cross‑industry relevance of football’s inclusion agenda.
The start of the 2025/26 season also marked a historic moment for transparency: professional clubs released workforce diversity data for the first time under FA Rule N. This disclosure offers unprecedented insight into the composition of leadership roles within clubs, helping to highlight gaps and drive targeted interventions. Kick It Out also collaborated with over 20 external bodies to submit proposals to the Independent Football Regulator. These submissions aimed to tighten board‑level accountability on equality, diversity and inclusion, and to set clear representation targets for club boards and senior management positions.
Beyond governance, the organisation worked with partners on a suite of pressing issues, including online abuse, sexism and misogyny, faith‑based discrimination, and the broader inclusion of marginalized communities. These collaborative efforts underscore a holistic approach that tackles both on‑field and off‑field discrimination. Okafor emphasized that this is merely the first year of a longer journey: "We have ambitious plans for the coming season. We will broaden grassroots anti‑discrimination education, increase the delivery of Fan Education with support from the Premier League, and expand the Raise Your Game programme.
Our aim is to keep building a game where everyone feels included and where we stand united against discrimination wherever it surfaces." In summary, the record number of reports should be read not only as an indicator of ongoing challenges but also as evidence of a growing willingness to speak out and of an expanding network of allies committed to change. As Football United moves into its second year, the focus will shift from merely recording incidents to implementing preventative strategies, enhancing education, and ensuring that the sport truly reflects the diversity of the communities it serves.
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