Kick It Out received a record 1,744 discrimination reports in first year of strategy

Kick It Out recorded a historic total of 1,744 discrimination reports during the first year of its Football United strategy. This figure encompasses incidents across professional football, grassroots levels, and online platforms. The organisation noted that a surge in anti-immigrant language contributed to this increase. Enhanced reporting relationships with various groups, such as Her Game Too and Football v Homophobia, have also encouraged more individuals to come forward with their experiences.

The rise in reported incidents does not solely indicate a decline in football's culture, according to Kick It Out. The organisation highlighted a growing confidence among communities to report discrimination, aided by improved partnerships with other organisations. More than 100 reports were submitted through new reporting channels during the 2025/26 season, showcasing the effectiveness of these collaborations.

Kick It Out's Year One Impact Report outlines the challenges faced by football in becoming more inclusive and representative. The report details the first year of the Football United strategy, which has four main objectives: inclusion, representation on the pitch, leadership opportunities off the pitch, and standing up against discrimination. The organisation aims to expand its reporting partnerships in the upcoming season.

In addition to the increase in reports, Kick It Out's educational initiatives reached over 11,000 individuals. The organisation also conducted various programmes, including the Raise Your Game development programme and Fan Education. A partnership with Guinness 0.0 allowed Kick It Out to extend its reach into pubs, training over 3,000 Greene King staff on recognising and responding to discrimination.

Kick It Out collaborated with more than 20 organisations to submit proposals to the Independent Football Regulator, focusing on equality, diversity, and inclusion. The organisation emphasised the importance of representation in leadership roles within clubs. Kick It Out's chief executive, Samuel Okafor, expressed commitment to furthering the strategy's goals and expanding grassroots education in the coming season.

via Sky Sports