Kick It Out, an anti-discrimination charity, has issued a warning that Black players may avoid taking penalties due to the prevalence of racist abuse. This concern arises from the potential for players to be targeted with discriminatory remarks and actions should they miss a penalty, adding an extra layer of pressure and anxiety to an already high-stakes situation.

The organization's apprehension is rooted in a troubling trend of increasing discriminatory behavior within football. Kick It Out's reports have more than doubled over the past two seasons, with 1,398 incidents recorded in the 2024/25 season alone, marking the highest figure ever recorded by the charity. This surge encompasses various forms of abuse, including racism, sexism, transphobia, ableism, and faith-based discrimination.

Racism remains the most reported form of discrimination, with a significant rise in racist abuse across all levels of the game. Shockingly, over half (55%) of racist abuse targeting players is directed at those from an East Asian background. The rise in online abuse is particularly alarming, with a 5% increase in reports this season. Racism continues to dominate this space, but there has also been a doubling of transphobic abuse, underscoring the need for immediate action to protect marginalized communities.

Beyond racism, Kick It Out has also noted a surge in sexism and misogyny, with reports increasing by 67%. Much of this is driven by a rise in online abuse, where sexist content rose by 72%. Faith-based abuse has also risen sharply, including a five-fold increase in sectarian incidents. Ableist abuse has increased by 45%, highlighting that disability discrimination remains a persistent but often overlooked issue in football.

These statistics paint a concerning picture of the current landscape of football, where discriminatory abuse is becoming increasingly prevalent. This environment can create a hostile atmosphere for players, particularly those from marginalized communities, and may lead to them making decisions based on fear of abuse rather than what is best for their team.

Kick It Out is working to combat discrimination at the grassroots level by expanding its grassroots team, developing specific educational resources, creating better pitch access opportunities for underrepresented groups, and working to increase the number of clubs and leagues they interact with through Kick It Out's Equality Charter. The organization has also launched a joint action plan with the FA to proactively tackle incidents of discrimination and serious misconduct in grassroots football. This plan focuses on increasing awareness and knowledge of serious incidents, improving reporting, and tackling specific problem areas where serious incidents are most prevalent.

Despite these efforts, the rise in discriminatory abuse remains a significant challenge. Stronger punishments for racist abuse have been implemented in recent years. However, better coordination from football authorities and stakeholders is needed to ensure positive outcomes for victims of abuse across the game, particularly on social media.