Kick It Out Launches Strategy to Combat Discrimination in Football

Kick It Out has unveiled a new strategy aimed at addressing discrimination and under-representation in English football. The anti-discrimination charity launched its five-year initiative, titled “Football United,” during an event in London on March 15, 2024. This ambitious campaign seeks to foster an inclusive environment for all supporters, irrespective of sex, ethnicity, sexuality, or religion.

The strategy sets specific goals, including increasing the representation of South Asian players in men’s football and enhancing the visibility of black, Asian, and mixed heritage players in women’s football. Furthermore, Kick It Out is focused on improving diversity among match officials and in coaching and leadership roles within the sport.

Recent data from the Football Association (FA), known as FA Rule N, highlights a significant gap in workforce diversity across many clubs, indicating that their staff does not accurately reflect the demographics of local communities in terms of gender, ethnicity, LGBTQ+ representation, and disability.

To enact meaningful change, Kick It Out aims to influence governing bodies to create better pathways for talent from all backgrounds. The charity’s strategy document emphasizes the need for everyone involved in football to confront discrimination with “courage and consistency.”

Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of Kick It Out, remarked on the unique ability of football to unite people, stating that it can “bring people together in shared moments that can become community movements.” He emphasized that the core of the new strategy is to harness this energy and work collaboratively to forge community movements that lead to lasting change.

Chief Executive Samuel Okafor reiterated the charity’s mission: “Our mission is clear: to unite football to end discrimination. And when we are united, the outcomes can be long-lasting.” He elaborated on the potential of unity in creating welcoming stadiums for all supporters, ensuring representation of diverse players and match officials, and breaking down barriers in coaching and administrative roles.

Okafor stressed the importance of collective action, stating, “These are not distant aspirations. They are achievable goals over the next five years where governing bodies, clubs, players, fans, and like-minded organizations work in partnership.” He concluded by asserting that unity and accountability can transform ambitions into real impacts, challenging abuse both in stadiums and online.

As Kick It Out embarks on this significant initiative, the call for collaboration across the football community aims to create an environment that reflects the diversity of society, fostering respect and inclusion at every level of the game.