MX23RW : Friday, November 8 16:59:09| >> :600:131920145:131920145:

Kick It Out boss calls for data sharing in order to tackle online abuse

The charity has published its latest annual findings, with a 42 per cent increase in reports of discrimination at matches in the professional game.

Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari has called for sharing of data to help the fight against discrimination and highlighted online abuse as a particular area of concern.

The equality and inclusion charity has published its latest annual findings and revealed 2019-20 saw a 42 per cent increase in reports made to it of discrimination at matches in the professional game.

That is despite the impact on the season of the coronavirus pandemic, with games after the suspension in March being played without fans present and other fixtures cancelled.

The figure went up from 313 in 2018-19 to 446. There was an increase of 53 per cent in reported racial abuse, up from 184 to 282, and a 95 per cent rise in reports of abuse based on sexual orientation, 117 compared to 60.

Also, among the results of a YouGov poll with fans launched by the charity was 71 per cent saying they had witnessed racist comments on social media directed at a footballer.

The charity has described the picture painted by the figures released as “shocking”, and Bhandari told the PA news agency: “We’d always suspected that what we have is just the tip of the iceberg and that actually the scale of the problem is much bigger.

“The YouGov poll has given us a bit of an indication of what is below the water line, and that this is a much more pernicious threat than even we had thought.

“The fact racism and discrimination exists in society and football causes us to be angry and disappointed. What we need to do is use that anger as an energy, and data and analytics as our strategy for helping to solve the problem, and where we need to focus our attention is on solutions.”

SOCCER Kick It Out

While the resumption of the season saw players taking a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in the United States, in July Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha and Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick were sent racist abuse on social media.

Bhandari added: “Football has its responsibility and its part to play in tackling the challenges. I think the death of George Floyd has changed things. I really do feel this time it could be different.

“I think in terms of tackling discrimination there is much more to do, and that in particular we need clubs, governing bodies, law enforcement to share data with us, and if we can do that; better data, better insights, better solutions.

“We really need to get a more detailed understanding of how much of this is a kid in their bedroom abusing Wilf Zaha or (former England and Arsenal striker) Ian Wright (who highlighted abuse he had received in June), and how much of it is organised, who is organising, what are their motivations.”

Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha was sent racist abuse on social media in July (John Walton/PA).
Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha was sent racist abuse on social media in July (John Walton/PA)

Bhandari has spoken about how social media “can be a battleground of hate”, and he said: “Particularly I think at the moment it is tackling hate online and in social media and having a more connected strategy to deal with that.”

He has said there is a need for better regulation and enforcement, and for social media companies to be “part of the solution”.

Bhandari said he would encourage players to “continue to exert pressure until people act and deliver”, and added: “I hope players will continue to feel free to protest in the way they feel comfortable.

“The thing I’d most like to see next season is action. We’ve had lots of gestures, but it has to be converted into meaningful action.

“My challenge to everyone is: this is what we’re going to be doing – campaigning, creating talent programmes, doing advocacy, working with government, law enforcement, clubs and governing bodies – but what are you going to do individually, how are you going to take a stand?”

At grassroots level, the number of reports to the charity was down from 113 to 94, but that was with seasons ending in March, and comparing it to the equivalent period in 2018-19, there was an 11 per cent increase.

Paul Elliott, chair of the Football Association’s inclusion advisory board, said: “The FA has made huge strides in recent years to ensure that English football is a diverse and inclusive game, but we know there is more to be done.

“We strongly condemn all forms of discrimination and, while only participants fall under the FA’s jurisdiction, we investigate all reported forms of discriminatory abuse in English football at every level of the game, and work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure matters are dealt with appropriately.”

ID:412782: cacheID:412782:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:9121:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Read more about Sanjay Bhandari Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
FT
Bengals
34-35
Ravens
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool108111961325
2Manchester CityMan City1072121111023
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest10541147719
4Chelsea105322012818
5Arsenal105321711618
6Aston Villa105321715218
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs1051422111116
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton104421714316
9Fulham104331413115
10Bournemouth104331312115
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle104331010015
12Brentford104151920-113
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd10334912-312
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham103251319-611
15Leicester CityLeicester102441418-410
16Everton102351017-79
17Crystal Palace10145813-57
18Ipswich TownIpswich100551021-115
19Southampton10118719-124
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves100371427-133


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!