Football fans think discrimination in game is shrinking, survey suggests

Nearly three-quarters of football fans think fellow supporters are more concerned about discrimination than they were 30 years ago, new research from anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out has revealed.

Kick It Out published The Impact Report – a survey of nearly 3,000 football fans on their experiences of, and opinions on, discrimination, diversity and inclusion – to mark its 30th anniversary on Tuesday (8 August).

The research shows a majority of fans feel there is less discrimination in football than when Kick It Out was launched in 1993, and 73 per cent of fans believe football has become more inclusive.

Of the fans who have previously experienced discrimination, 69 per cent said they now experience less discrimination than they used to, due to the work of Kick It Out. 

Alongside this, 70 per cent of football fans said they would feel comfortable calling out a friend for discrimination, but less (34 per cent) were comfortable confronting a stranger. 



Since 1993, Kick It Out has been tackling discrimination in football. Today, 30 years on, we stand with them united in a vision for a game where abuse and inequality in sport no longer exists.

Read the full impact report here: https://t.co/rdji9DMbik#KickItOut30 pic.twitter.com/hswTnps0yU

— Kick It Out (@kickitout) August 8, 2023

Despite the strides made, 85 per cent of those surveyed feel more needs to be done to combat discrimination towards fans at stadiums and 87 per cent said more needs to be done to tackle abuse towards players at stadiums.