Discrimination on the Rise in English Football: Kick It Out Reports Record-High Incidents
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has revealed that it received a record number of reports of discrimination during the 2023-24 season in English football. The charity reported a significant increase in incidents of sexism, misogyny, and racism, with a total of 1,332 incidents reported across all levels of the game. This marks a 32% increase from the previous season and is the highest number of reports ever received by the organization.
Sexism and misogyny saw the most dramatic rise, with a 44% increase from 80 incidents in the 2022-23 season to 115 incidents last season. This form of discrimination had already seen a staggering increase of over 400% in previous years. Analysis of the language used in these incidents showed that 64% of them questioned the place of women in men’s football.
Racism continues to be the most reported form of discrimination, with a 47% increase in abuse reported across all levels of the game last season. Faith-based abuse also saw a rise of 34%, while 55% of racism targeted at specific players was directed towards those from an East Asian background. Overall, there were 395 reports of “player-targeted abuse” last season, compared to 277 in the previous season.
Chairman of Kick It Out, Sanjay Bhandari, expressed deep concern over the rising number of reports. However, he also noted that there is now a greater awareness of reporting procedures, which has led to a higher rate of reporting incidents. This is the fifth successive season in which the charity has seen an increase in its reports per incident rate.
Bhandari added that there have been stronger punishments for racist abuse in recent years, including the toughest ever handed out to a football fan found guilty of racist abuse at a match earlier this season. This suggests that authorities are taking a firmer stance against discrimination in football.
Despite these alarming statistics, there were some positive trends. Incidents of homophobic mass chanting decreased from 43 in the 2021-22 season to 17 last season. Additionally, reports of discrimination received by the charity at grassroots level decreased by 24%, and there was also a 9% decrease in reports in the professional game.
These figures highlight the ongoing battle against discrimination in football and the need for continued efforts to create a more inclusive and equal environment within the sport. It is crucial for organizations like Kick It Out to continue raising awareness, implementing reporting procedures, and advocating for stronger punishments to combat discrimination effectively.
In conclusion, the rising number of discrimination incidents in English football is a cause for concern. The significant increase in reports of sexism, misogyny, and racism underscores the urgent need for action. While there have been some improvements and increased awareness of reporting procedures, there is still much work to be done to eradicate discrimination from the beautiful game.