Kick It Out, English football's anti-discrimination body, has called for tougher sanctions after recording a record 1,255 discrimination incidents across all levels of the game in the 2025-26 season, up from 960 the previous season. Chief executive Samuel Okafor said racism remains "deeply ingrained" in football as a "reflection of wider society", and expects harsher punishments to be introduced within weeks. The rise matters because it highlights persistent abuse faced by players and officials, and growing frustration that existing sanctions, such as fines, are too weak to deter offenders.

The organisation also received 1,744 reports of discrimination in 2025-26, a 25% year-on-year increase, with racism the most common at 792 cases (up 19%). Islamophobia rose 88% to 60 reports, homophobia climbed 46% to 203, antisemitism was up 43% to 93, ableism rose 20% and sexism increased 12%. The article highlights the case of Umar Ali, a semi-professional player racially and religiously abused by opposition fans in Bradford, whose club felt a £300 fine and nine disciplinary points imposed on the offending club were inadequate, with calls for the Football Association to mandate stronger action.