269% increase in reports submitted to Kick It Out

Kick It Out has revealed a 269% increase on incidents of discrimination reported to the organisation for the 2013/14 season today (22 August).

The statistics, which are compared to complaints filed during the 2012/13 season, relate to incidents within professional and grassroots football, and on social media. They show a dramatic increase in the level of incidents – a leap from 77 to 284 – submitted to Kick It Out.

The overall statistics show that racism (66%), faith-based abuse (20.5%) – with antisemitism making up all but one complaint – and homophobia (8%) were the most common forms of discrimination reported to Kick It Out for the 2013/14 season.

The majority of complaints submitted related to social media abuse (50%), then incidents attached to the professional game (26%), grassroots (22%) and professional players (2%). The increase comes after Kick It Out released its mobile app, which contains a reporting function, in July 2013.

Just over a year on, the app has made an immediate impact as it has become Kick It Out’s most-used reporting mechanism relating to incidents within professional football – responsible for 38% of complaints registered with the organisation at this level of the game.

The statistics also show the high level of incidents of football-related hate crime on social media – a total of 142 – reported to Kick It Out. The organisation passes on all these complaints to the Police, via its online reporting facility True Vision, to investigate.

One case led to a 21-year-old man from London being convicted and fined £150 having posted a derogatory remark on Kick It Out’s official Facebook page in January 2014. A number of cases have seen individuals issued with cautions, and undertaking further education delivered by Kick It Out.

A Restorative Justice outcome was also accepted by a man in his 40s from Norfolk after he posted an offensive comment on Facebook directed at former Norwich City manager Chris Hughton. The individual concerned met with Kick It Out officials for a rehabilitation session and issued a full apology in April.

In October 2013, Anna Jӧnsson joined Kick It Out as its first full-time Reporting Officer. She manages all complaints across the game on behalf of the organisation. A breakdown of the reporting statistics can be found below. Please click here to find out how to report incidents of discrimination to Kick It Out .

Overall

Number of incidents – 284

Type of discrimination – Race (189), Gender (2), Disability (4), Faith (58 – 57 of which are antisemitism), Homophobia (22), Age (0), Other (9)

Professional game complaints

Type of discrimination – Race (67%), Homophobia (16%), Faith (16%), Other (1%), Disability (0%), Gender (0%), Age (0%)

Method of contact – App (38%), website form (33%), email (11%), social media (10%), telephone (5%), letter (3%)

Professional player complaints

Type of discrimination – Race (60%), Homophobia (20%), Faith (20%), Disability (0%), Gender (0%), Age (0%)

Method of contact – Social media (33%), email (33%), telephone (17%), website form (17%), app (0%), letter (0%)

Grassroots complaints

Type of discrimination – Race (77%), Other (13%), Homophobia (5%), faith (3%), disability (2%), gender (0%), age (0%)

Method of contact – Email (39%), website form (29%), telephone (23%), app (6%), social media (1.5%), letter (1.5%)

Social media incidents

Type of discrimination – Race (62%), Faith (30%), Homophobia (4%), Disability (2%), Gender (2%), Age (0%)

Breakdown of cases closed at the end of 2013-2014 season

Professional game

64 cases closed
8 cases proven (12.5%)

Professional player

4 cases closed
3 cases proven (75%)

Grassroots

39 cases closed
14 cases proven (36%)

Social media

142 incidents reported
73 cases led to offender identified and/or action taken and/or account deleted (51%)

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"We have a responsibility as players to give something back and I’m really thankful to be part of this organisation because we can do a lot of good."
Jack Butland, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“A big part of my involvement with Kick It Out stems from my strong admiration for the organisation’s commitment to fairness and equality.”
Clive Tyldesley, football commentator
“It was Kick It Out that convinced the people in football that change was possible.”
Greg Dyke, former FA chairman
“I wanted to thank the campaigners at Kick It Out for their work. I know first-hand how Kick It Out can help.”
Yaya Toure, Manchester City midfielder
“It is important for me in my role as a Kick It Out ‘Next 20’ ambassador to teach young people how to handle discrimination and treat people with respect.”
Romelu Lukaku, 'Next 20' Ambassador
“It is a massive honour for me to be an ambassador for such a great organisation. I think they do great work on and off the field.”
Toni Duggan, 'Next 20' Ambassador
"It really helped me to see that other professional sports people were acknowledging their sexuality. I read about John Amaechi, Gareth Thomas and Tom Daley. They weren't footballers but the fact that they went public gave me the feeling that I was not alone."
Thomas Hitzlsperger, former Aston Villa midfielder
"There was no conflict between religion and the fact that I wanted to play football. I was brought up correctly and in the right way and my parents are very proud of the fact that I am a professional footballer."
Sadio Mané, Liverpool winger
“I think it’s important to share success stories and realise that there are women operating in the game. If it’s something you want to do, you can do it.”
Ffion Eade, Hampshire FA referee
"I've had loads of negative comments from men, especially growing up. It's just boring and old. Times have changed, and they continue to change. Women play football, and they're good at it, and have been for a number of years.”
Kelly Smith, England Women's record goalscorer
"Despite the progress, stereotypes still exist in football and until that is broken down it will be extremely difficult for a woman to manage a top level men's team."
Rachel Yankey, former Arsenal Ladies forward
"There’s no hiding that there is sexism in sport. We have a lack of women right across all levels of management, playing and coaching. It shows the closed nature of sport in general and this includes the media. It’s an indictment of sport as a whole."
Rimla Akhtar, Kick It Out trustee and Chair of the Muslim Women’s Sports Foundation
“I’m proud to be a supporter of Kick It Out and particularly the work they are doing to combat antisemitism within football.”
Joe Jacobson, Wycombe Wanderers midfielder
"With Kick It Out leading the way football is standing up and fighting against those who preach hatred and intolerance and we at Chelsea are proud to support their work."
Bruce Buck, Chelsea Football Club Chairman