Key Takeaways
- Discriminatory reports in UK football rose sharply in the 2025‑26 season, reaching 1,744 incidents – the highest ever recorded.
- Antisemitism incidents increased by 43 % year‑on‑year, totalling 93 reports and ranking as the third‑largest percentage rise among all discrimination categories.
- Islamophobia showed the steepest increase (+88 %), reaching 60 reports, while racism, sexism and homophobia remained the most frequently reported categories overall.
- Social media was the most common platform for antisemitic abuse (35 reports), followed by professional match‑day incidents (31) and grassroots youth football (23).
- Spikes in discrimination often coincided with broader societal events – such as the Manchester synagogue attack, the Tel Aviv fan ban, and the grooming‑gangs inquiry – suggesting that global and national tensions are reflected on the pitch.
- Kick It Out’s chief executive stressed that while discrimination remains “deeply embedded,” the rise in reporting indicates growing willingness to confront abuse, exemplified by professional players speaking out.
- The charity urges football authorities, clubs, leagues, regulators and government to translate the courage to report abuse into clear, consistent action to make the game welcoming for all.
Overall Rise in Discriminatory Reports
The 2025‑26 season marked a troubling milestone for UK football: Kick It Out logged 1,744 separate discrimination reports, the highest figure in any season to date and a continuation of an upward trend observed over the previous five years. This increase reflects both a genuine rise in hateful behaviour and a greater willingness among fans, players and officials to come forward when they witness abuse. The data underscore that discrimination is not confined to isolated incidents but permeates multiple levels of the game, from elite fixtures to grassroots youth matches.
Antisemitism Specifics
Within the broader picture, antisemitic reports rose by 43 % compared with the 2024‑25 season, climbing from 65 to 93 incidents. Although antisemitism does not top the list of most‑reported categories, its percentage increase ranks third highest among all discrimination types tracked by Kick It Out. The majority of these antisemitic complaints originated on social media (35 reports), highlighting online platforms as a fertile ground for hate speech. Professional match‑day environments contributed 31 reports, while grassroots youth football accounted for 23, indicating that the problem spans both the digital realm and physical venues across the sport.
Other Discrimination Categories
Islamophobia experienced the most dramatic surge, increasing by 88 % to reach 60 reports, making it the category with the sharpest year‑on‑year growth. Racism remained the most frequently cited form of discrimination, followed closely by sexism and homophobia, which together accounted for the bulk of the 1,744 total reports. These figures illustrate that while antisemitism is a growing concern, it exists alongside a wider spectrum of hate that continues to affect football culture at every level.
Platforms and Settings of Abuse
Breaking down the antisemitic incidents by setting reveals a clear pattern: social media was the leading source (35 reports), underscoring the role of online discourse in amplifying hateful narratives. Professional match‑day environments followed with 31 reports, suggesting that stadium atmospheres—whether through chants, banners or direct confrontations—still harbour antisemitic sentiment. Grassroots youth football contributed 23 reports, a concerning figure that indicates young players and their families are also exposed to or perpetrating such abuse, potentially shaping attitudes early in life.
Linking Discrimination to Wider Events
Kick It Out examined whether spikes in football‑related discrimination correlate with external societal events. By plotting key domestic stories against incident numbers, the charity identified noticeable rises after the Manchester synagogue attack, the ban on Tel Aviv fans attending an Aston Villa fixture, and the launch of the grooming‑gangs inquiry. Similar patterns emerged after the Supreme Court ruling on gender that prompted the FA’s ban on transgender women in women’s football, which triggered a surge in transphobic abuse, and after the 7 October 2023 attacks, which provoked sharp increases in both antisemitic and Islamophobic reports. While the charity cautioned that correlation does not prove causation, the temporal alignment suggests that broader social tensions are frequently mirrored—or even exacerbated—on the football pitch.
Interpretation of Correlation vs. Causation
Kick It Out emphasized that establishing a direct causal link between a specific headline and an individual discriminatory act is virtually impossible. Incidents are influenced by a complex mix of personal biases, group dynamics, and opportunities for expression. Nevertheless, the repeated coincidence of event‑driven spikes and increased reporting lends credence to the adage “what happens in the world gets played out on the pitch.” This perspective reinforces the need for football authorities to remain vigilant about societal developments and to pre‑emptively address potential flashpoints before they translate into hateful behaviour on match days.
Leadership Commentary and Call to Action
Samuel Okafor, Kick It Out’s chief executive, described the figures as evidence that discrimination remains “deeply embedded” across English football, especially amid a broader rise in hate crime and divisive political rhetoric in Britain. Yet he also noted a hopeful trend: more people are willing to report abuse when they see it, and professional players have begun to set examples by speaking out against discrimination. Okafor urged clubs, leagues, regulators and government to match this courage with concrete, consistent actions—such as robust sanctioning policies, education programmes, and effective monitoring—to ensure that football becomes a welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender or sexuality.
Implications for the Future of Football
The 2025‑26 data serve as both a warning and an opportunity. The unprecedented volume of reports highlights the persistent presence of hate in the sport, while the willingness to expose it suggests a cultural shift toward accountability. If football stakeholders translate this momentum into sustained anti‑discrimination strategies—addressing online hate, improving match‑day policing, fostering inclusive grassroots initiatives, and responding swiftly to societal triggers—they can begin to dismantle the embedded prejudices that currently mar the game. Ultimately, the goal must be to create a football culture where diversity is celebrated and every participant can enjoy the sport free from fear of abuse.