This marks a continued year-on-year rise, up from 1,332 reports in 2023/24, 1,007 in 2022/23, and 610 in 2021/22.
The data, drawn from reports across the professional game, grassroots, and social media, shows increases in sexism, transphobia, and faith-based abuse, alongside consistently high levels of racism, which remains the most reported form of discrimination.
Sexism and misogyny rose by 67%, with reports increasing from 115 to 192, partially driven by an increase in abuse in online settings, where reports of sexist content rose by 72%. Eighteen reports of sexist chanting were received this season, almost matching the total from the previous four seasons combined.
The rise follows the launch of Kick It Out’s Kick Sexism Out campaign this season, which aims to highlight and tackle the abuse women and girls face across football. The charity is calling on the game to take stronger action, and for greater consistency in how sexist abuse is monitored and recorded, including in official football policing data.
Online abuse remains a major concern, with 621 reports submitted this season, a 5% rise on last year. A large proportion of these (268) related to racism, underlining how racial abuse continues to be prevalent in online spaces. In addition, faith-based abuse rose sharply, including a five-fold increase in sectarian abuse and a continued rise in religiously motivated discrimination across social media platforms.
Grassroots football accounted for 325 reports this season, up from 303 in 2023/24. The biggest shift came at youth level, which now makes up 57% of all grassroots reports. Reports involving girls’ football doubled, while overall youth reports rose from 144 to 186, a record high.
The charity also received 452 reports from the professional game, up slightly from 440 last season. While overall reports of racism fell across all levels of the game, the number of racist incidents in the pro game increased from 223 to 245.
Reports of homophobic abuse fell slightly, down from 162 to 139. However, anti-LGBTQ+ hate online remains a concern, particularly in the form of rising transphobic abuse, which doubled this season.
Ableist abuse also saw a significant increase, with reports up by 45% across all levels of the game.
The figures come after policing hate crime statistics released last month showed that hate crime remained the most prevalent form of disorder at matches last season, with 420 incidents reported. Of these, 287 related to race, 140 to sexual orientation, 20 to religion, 19 to disability, and three to gender identity.
This comes in a season where Kick It Out expanded its impact across the game, reaching a record number of fans through its Fan Education programme, which offers one-to-one rehabilitation education for those found guilty of discriminatory abuse. Thousands more fans, players, parents, and staff engaged with the charity’s wider education work, including academy workshops, grassroots coaching sessions delivered by Kick It Out’s coach educators, and online courses available via its education platform, The Academy.
The charity’s reporting service continues to be a vital tool in challenging discrimination, enabling anyone who experiences or witnesses abuse to report it confidentially, connect with the appropriate authorities, and access support. Reports can be made online, via email, or through the Kick It Out app.
Samuel Okafor, Kick It Out CEO, said:
“These figures show that discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game, but the rise in abuse in youth football should be a wake-up call. No one should be facing hostility simply for taking part.
“What we’re seeing now is that fans aren’t just reporting abuse, they’re demanding action. There’s been a clear shift this season in how people are calling out sexist behaviour, both online and in stadiums, and asking football to treat it as seriously as any other form of hate.”
“At the same time, it’s clear that online platforms are still falling short. The volume of abuse remains high, and too often, those responsible face no consequences.
“Fans are doing their part by speaking up. It’s now up to football authorities, tech companies and government to show they’re listening, and to act.”
