Discrimination across all levels of English football has risen sharply, with Kick It Out recording 1,255 incidents during the 2025-26 season — up from 960 the previous campaign. The organisation also received 1,744 reports of discrimination, a 25% increase on 2024-25.
Racism remained the most reported form of abuse with 792 cases, a 19% rise. Homophobia climbed 46% to 203 reports, while antisemitism rose 43% to 93. Islamophobia saw the sharpest increase, up 88% to 60 incidents. Sexism and ableism rose by 12% and 20% respectively. Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor described racism as “deeply ingrained” in the game but said it was “a reflection of wider society”. He called for tougher sanctions, adding he believed they would arrive “hopefully in the next few weeks”.
The numbers come as no surprise to Umar Ali, who plays for Route One Rovers, a semi-professional team in Bradford. During Ramadan last year, Ali was racially abused by opposition spectators while waiting to come on as a substitute. Among the comments directed at him were remarks about his beard and a deeply offensive comparison involving a young child aged around six or seven.
“It’s quite distressing, because they’re older than my dad,” Ali said. “They’re my grandad’s age, and they felt comfortable enough to stand there and make comments like that.” The assistant referee heard the abuse and informed the referee, but Ali claims no action was taken. Police were eventually contacted and the spectators identified, though Ali said he has not been informed of any outcome.
Ali’s manager Mohammed Patel, who was in the dugout during the match, said the opposition coaching staff apologised on behalf of their supporters. However, Patel felt officials fell short by failing to remove the spectators responsible for the racist and Islamophobic abuse aimed at his players.
Image credit: BBC Sport / BBC Sport
