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Racism is on the rise in football, anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has told PoliticsHome.
Sam Okafor, CEO of Kick It Out, and a former footballer, said that reports of racism and discrimination in the British game had increased in the last few seasons, driven by a rise in hateful social media posts directed towards players, coaches and referees.
“It hasn’t been eradicated from the game. We’ve heard it throughout the season,” he said.
In an interview with PoliticsHome, he said that while the charity has seen racism and discrimination “shift significantly” to the online space, the problem “absolutely” still exists in stadiums.
“Racist reports to Kick It Out went up last season. We’re still hearing it this season…
“I’ve spoken to one or two players who have had it in [the] terraces this season, and I know the impact, the negative impact it has on them and on their ability to enjoy the game.”
Reacting, Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, said there was “absolutely no place for racism in society or sport” and that the government supports the work Kick it Out, national governing bodies, and clubs are doing collectively to tackle discrimination.
“Clearly, there is more to do, and we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe to be involved in sport,” she told PoliticsHome.
Okafor said Kick It Out has collaborated with Ofcom, the communications regulator, to tackle abuse within football.
“This season, more than ever, you can see the impact it’s having on players. You can see the impact it’s having on coaches, on those participating within the game.”
Khadija Shaw, a Manchester City women’s player, in February pulled out of the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal after suffering racist and sexist abuse.
Okafor said more than 50 per cent of women who recently contributed to a Kick It Out report had experienced sexism or misogyny in the game. He added that 85 per cent of those women who experienced abuse had not reported it to the footballing authorities.
According to Okafor, “political” and “external” environments are contributing to people feeling more emboldened to post racist and sexist abuse online.
“Sometimes it’s the political environment you’re in, the external environment you’re in, [which] allows you to do that… Maybe people are hearing different views externally, and they feel off the back of that, they can then start to be more emboldened to be able to share those discriminatory views.”
The Football Governance Bill is currently making its way through Parliament.
The legislation contains major reforms to make English football more sustainable, with the creation of a new independent regulator at its heart.
It will also require clubs to promote diversity in football, including at board level, with those that fail faced with losing their license to compete in the top five leagues of the English game.
Managers and owners in the lower leagues have told PoliticsHome it will be difficult to recruit a diverse board, as they find it difficult enough getting volunteers to help teams stay afloat.
While Okafor was not keen on naming and shaming clubs that did not promote diversity, he thought teams could do better at recruiting diverse members of communities.
“I’m not totally bought into that argument,” he said.
“There will be some areas where you’re in a community where there is diversity…
“How hard are you going out to work with different recruitment agencies, change your recruitment practices, and make it feel to people that these roles are achievable?”
A recent Supreme Court ruling that the legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex was followed by the Football Association announcing that, from 1 June, transgender women will no longer be able to play in women’s football in England.
Okafor said the definition was changed for “legal reasons” and it was a “blow to the teeth to the trans community”, but didn’t say when asked repeatedly whether he felt the FA decision was correct.
“It’s time for us to show solidarity and support to the trans community as well,” he said, adding that Kick It Out had seen “rising abuse towards the trans community” in football.
“It’s really important we continue to send a message that there’s no place for discrimination within the game, and towards trans players as well.”
