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, he said that while the charity has seen racism and discrimination "shift significantly" to the online space, the problem "absolutely" still exists in stadiums.
“I've spoken to one or two players who have had it in [the] terraces this season, and I know 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 said. 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, coaches and 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.