Reports of discriminatory abuse are on the rise again in English football, with racism the most common form of hate speech reported, according to figures show from Kick It Out, a charity for equality and inclusion in football. It suggests an increase in reports for the sixth consecutive year.
Racism constituted 53 per cent of them during the 2017/18 season. The charity received a total of 520 reports for this period, up by 11 per cent from 469 in 2016/17. Disability discrimination reports rose higher than any other in 2017/18, increasing by 107 per cent from 14 to 29.
Ten per cent of all reports concerned antisemitism. That figure comes as Kick It Out prepares to release a series of educational resources, including a short film, made with Chelsea Football Club, encouraging football fans to flag anti-semitic abuse. A stewards’ training guide has also been produced with the Community Security Trust (CST), the security body for the UK’s Jewish community.
The statistics are compiled from all levels of the game, including the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), FA Women’s Super League, non-league and grassroots fixtures. Reports from social media, which was the most popular reporting method, are also included.
Cases reported at EFL matches have risen by 30 per cent, and across the entire professional game there was a 10 per cent increase overall from 194 in 2016/17 to 214 in 2017/18. Grassroots discrimination reports rose by 35 per cent across the same period, with racism (71 per cent) and disability (33 per cent) the most common forms of discrimination reported.
Kick It Out chair, Lord Ouseley, said: “It is hugely disappointing to have to reveal, yet again, increasing levels of all forms of discriminatory abuse at football. While the increased reports reflect a greater inclination among fans to complain about unacceptable abuse, these trends reflect, in part, what is happening in the rest of society. Hate crime reports have doubled over the last year to more than 94,000.”
He added: “Football cannot be complacent about the risk to the game this represents. Much good work has, and is, being done to prevent and counter unacceptable behaviour. But, the professional leagues and their clubs must do more in a coherent and consistent way – exemplifying all the best practices applied by some clubs – to drive hateful and abusive spectators out of the game.
“Equally, The FA and its county associations, as well as local leagues, must step up their actions to ensure compliance and enforcement at grassroots level.”
You can report discrimination to Kick It Out via our app, email ([email protected]), Freephone number (0800 169 9414) or website.
