Racist and Homophobic Abuse Up 25% in English Football
Discrimination remains deeply embedded across all levels of English football, according to new figures from the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. Reports of racist and homophobic abuse surged by a significant 25% last season, marking an unsettling trend as the sport grapples with long-standing issues.
In the 2025-26 campaign, there were 1,744 reports of discrimination, compared to 1,398 in the previous year. This marked a 25% increase and surpassed the 1,000 mark for distinct incidents with 1,255 reported.
Key findings:- Online abuse rose by five percent to 650 reports
- In professional football and grassroots levels, there was a 41% increase in abuse reports
The data revealed alarming increases across various forms of discrimination. Homophobia saw a 46% rise, followed closely by Islamophobia at 88%, anti-Semitism up 43%, sexism up 12%, and ableism up 20%. At the same time, reports of discriminatory mass chanting also spiked by 41% to a record-high 142 instances.
Professional players leading change:Kick It Out's Chief Executive Samuel Okafor highlighted that despite progress, there is a long way to go. He emphasized, “People are more willing to stand up against abuse where they see it, and professional players have set a powerful example last season.”
Mr. Okafor continued: