Racism in football rises for sixth year in a row

Discriminatory abuse at football matches has increased for a sixth consecutive year with racism accounting for more than half of reported incidents, the latest statistics released on Wednesday by Kick It Out reveal.

Football’s anti-discrimination campaigners recorded 273 incidents of racism across the Premier League, English Football League, FA Women’s Super League, non-league and grassroots matches last season — an increase of 22 per cent from the season before.

They also received 111 reports of homophobia, almost a fifth of the 520 total, which is equivalent to more than one incident per day. Lord Ouseley, Kick It Out’s chairman and i columnist, is concerned that the terraces are being used as a medium through which to channel hatred growing in the rest of society.

Reflecting society

“It is hugely disappointing to have to reveal, yet again, increasing levels of all forms of discriminatory abuse at football,” Lord Ouseley said.

“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.”

Anti-Semetic abuse accounted for 10 per cent of the reports, and Kick It Out are releasing a short film made with Chelsea encouraging supporters to flag up any they witness. Other educational resources and a stewards’ training guide have been created to help deal with issues when they arise.

The accounts of recorded disability discrimination also doubled, from 14 in the 2016/17 season to 29 last season. Incidents of sexism, transphobia and faith-related abuse were also reported during the season.

Grassroots rise

Grassroots football has seen a huge increase in discriminatory abuse reported, rising by more than a third, with racism (71 per cent) and disability discrimination (33 per cent) the most common complaints.

Lord Ouseley has called on the Football Association to tackle the increasing levels of abuse prevalent across the game.

“Football cannot be complacent about the risk to the game this represents,” he said. “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.”