Tuesday 6 September 2016 10:05, UK
Kick It Out has called for a unified effort from football to eradicate prejudice and hate from the game on the day it showcased its 'Call Full Time On Hate' initiative.
Football's equality and inclusion organisation has released its 2015/16 reporting statistics, which reveal an increase in discrimination incidents of 2.5 per cent from the previous year - from 393 to 402. Discrimination reports to Kick It Out have risen year-on-year since the organisation started collating statistics in 2012/13.
Kick It Out is especially concerned about discrimination and exclusion in many aspects of football at grassroots level with 73 incidents reported over the past year.
Reports of football-related social media discrimination to the organisation have also risen by 18 per cent with 194 incidents reported, highlighting, it says, how hate and prejudice have moved from the stadiums to online.
The organisation says the situation at grassroots level is being exacerbated by the recent worrying levels of hate and prejudice in society that negatively impact on the sport, with incidents of hate being witnessed every week.
It has called for the full backing of the football authorities and affiliated organisations, including sponsors and partners, to intensify their activities to tackle prejudice and hatred and to place football at the forefront of promoting good community cohesion, by developing and supporting vital initiatives at grassroots level across the country.
Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley said: "Football has undoubtedly come a long way and made progress in tackling discrimination and making the game open to all. However, there's vulnerability at this moment in time.
"As cutbacks have taken place across society, football has stepped up and lead the way in terms of its community programmes, focusing on diversity, inclusion and equality using the power of football.
"It's become a leader for this area but young people are vulnerable to the increased levels of prejudice and hate which has been evidenced by increases in reported hate crimes and incidents.
"Education is one of the essential elements of tackling ignorance, bigotry and intolerance. Bringing people of all backgrounds together to play and participate in football activities provides the ideal environment to stimulate learning with and from each other about each other.
"This contributes to the achievement of diversity, inclusion and equality, by confronting personal prejudices which contribute to hateful activity. Kick It Out is intensifying its education work within football, including the professional sector, with a particular emphasis on football at grassroots."
Kick It Out is working with local communities and showcased its 'Call Full Time On Hate' campaign at a refurbished Astroturf pitch in Stepney Green Park, east London, on Tuesday.
The facility was opened in 2014 and was made possible following a £450,000 grant from the Premier League and The FA Facilities Fund, which provides grants towards developing new or refurbished grassroots football facilities.
