Kick It Out received 1,332 reports during the 2023/24 season, the highest number ever received by the anti-discrimination and inclusion charity in a single season.
The organization also received more player-specific discriminatory reports in professional gaming than ever before, with abuse targeting players increasing by 43% (277 to 395).
The new figures, which incorporate reports from across the professional game, grassroots and social media, represent a 32% increase on the previous year and are more than double the 601 received during the 2021/22 season.
Kick It Out received a record 1,332 reports this season, a 32% increase over last season
It is encouraging to see that for the fifth consecutive season, Kick It Out’s reporting rate per incident has increased, suggesting that fans are becoming less tolerant of discriminatory abuse. The association received 1.5 reports per incident last season, compared to 1.38 the following season.
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After a sharp increase during the 2022/23 season, reports of sexism and misogyny continue to rise, increasing by another 44% (from 80 to 115).
Last season, 12 reports of gender-based abuse were made to eight different WSL players, the highest number of reports Kick It Out has received from professional players in a season.
Reports of sexism and misogynism increased by 43.8% from last season compared to 2022/23
For the second season running, reports of mass homophobic chants have fallen, from 43 in the 21/22 season to 17 this year. The drop follows a change in the law and updated FA guidelines, which see certain chants made a punishable offence.
The published data also revealed:
- A 22% increase (from 111 to 143) in reports of discrimination at youth level (U18), including a seven-fold increase in abuse in U12 football (from 4 to 25).
- An increase in abuse of referees in amateur football, with more than double the number of such reports compared to last season.
- Reports of homophobia from the field (down 24%) and professional settings (down 9%) both decreased. However, hate towards LGBTQ+ people increased sharply online, with reports increasing from 43 to 65. Reports of transphobia online also increased by 183%.
- A 35% increase in anti-disability slurs and language.
After a sharp increase during the 2022/23 season, reports of sexism and misogyny continue to rise
Sanjay Bhandari, Chairman of Kick It Out, said: “These figures highlight the seriousness of the problem of discrimination in football, with reports to Kick It Out more than doubling in the last two seasons.
“It is very worrying to see how reports are increasing. However, we believe that this increase can also be attributed to the fact that supporters have become less tolerant of discrimination and are more aware of reporting procedures.
Cases of racism increased by more than 50% between 2023/24 and 2022/23
“It is encouraging that in recent years we have seen tougher sanctions for racist abuse, including the harshest ever sanction for a football fan found guilty of racist abuse at a football match earlier this season.
“However, we now need better coordination between football authorities and stakeholders to ensure positive outcomes for victims of abuse in the game, particularly on social media where too much discriminatory abuse still goes unreported.”
Sky Sports News has contacted X, Meta and Google for comment on the statistics relating to their platforms.
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Online Reporting Form | Kick It Out
Kick It Out is the organisation for equality and inclusion in football – working across the football, education and community sectors to tackle discrimination, encourage inclusive practices and campaign for positive change.
