English football reports record 1,744 discrimination cases

Reports of discrimination in English football reached a record high during the 2025-26 season, according to new data released by the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out. The organization recorded 1,744 reports of abuse, a 25 percent increase from the previous season, with the number of distinct incidents surpassing 1,000 for the first time.

The data, published on July 29, 2026, shows a widespread rise across all levels of the game and types of abuse. Reports in the professional game and at grassroots level each increased by 41 percent, while online reports rose by five percent. Racism remained the most reported form of discrimination with 792 cases, accounting for 45 percent of all reports. However, other categories saw even sharper spikes: Islamophobia reports soared by 88 percent to 60, homophobia rose by 46 percent to 203, and antisemitism increased by 43 percent to 93. Reports of sexism and ableism also rose by 12 and 20 percent, respectively.

A particularly concerning trend was a 41 percent increase in reports of discriminatory mass chanting, with 142 instances recorded-the highest number ever. The charity also noted a significant rise in the use of anti-immigrant...