Category Sports News

Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out says it received record-high reports of discrimination during the 2024-25 season with a rise in sexism, transphobia and faith-based abuse.

Across all levels of English football last season, there were 1, 398 incidents reported – up from the 1, 332 published in last season’s figures – and the most ever received by the organisation.

Reports of sexism and misogyny rose by 67%, with reports increasing from 115 in the 2023-24 season to 192.

Faith-based abuse reports climbed from 117 to 132, while reports of transphobia doubled from 22 to 44.

Reports involving girls ‘ football doubled to 31, including two at under-9s level, while overall youth reports rose from 144 to a record high of 186.

Overall reports of racism fell across all levels of football, but the number of racist incidents in the professional game increased from 223 to 245.

Kick It Out also noted in its end-of-season reporting statistics for last season:

Kick It Out chief executive Samuel Okafor said “discrimination remains deeply embedded across the game”, and the rise in abuse in youth football “should be a wake-up call”.

Okafor acknowledged there had been a “clear shift” in people “calling out sexist behaviour”, but he wants to see greater action to tackle online abuse.

“It’s clear that online platforms are still falling short. The volume of abuse remains high, and too often those responsible face no consequences”, said Okafor.

In addition to the rise in sexism, transphobia, and faith-based abuse, the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out reports record-high reports of discrimination during the years 2024 to 2025.

The organization received 1, 398 reports last season across all levels of English football, an increase over the 1, 332 reported in the previous season’s figures, making that number the most reports ever received.

Reports of misogyny and sexism increased by 67%, from 115 to 192 in the 2023-to-24 season.

Reports of transphobia increased from 22 to 44, while reports of faith-based abuse increased from 117 to 132.

Reports on girls’ football increased from 144 to 186, with two of those reporting at under-9s level.

Overall, there were no fewer racist incidents in the professional game than there were overall, but overall there were no more racist incidents.

In addition, Kick It Out noted the following in its last-season end-of-season reporting statistics:

The rise in abuse in youth football “should be a wake-up call,” according to Kick It Out CEO Samuel Okafor, who stated that “discrimination still exists fundamentally throughout the game.”

Although Okafor acknowledged that there had been a “clear shift” in “calling out sexist behavior,” he wants to see more action taken to combat online abuse.

It is obvious that online services are still lacking. The abuse continues to rise, and many responsible parties don’t get any justice, according to Okafor.

Depending on who misses out on RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson is seen as a backup option for both Manchester United and Newcastle, while West Ham is interested in Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey.

If Chelsea lose RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old Slovenian forward Benjamin Sesko, both Manchester United and Newcastle have made a backup plan for the club’s 24-year-old. (The Athletic is required to subscribe)

If class=”ssrcss-1xjjfut-BoldText e5tfeyi3″>Aston Villa don’t close a deal for Sesko, they are also prepared to look out for interest from Manchester United in England striker Ollie Watkins, 29. (Teamtalk)

Harry Maguire, a 32-year-old England defender, has received five offers from Premier League clubs and clubs in Italy. (Mail)

England’s 26-year-old centre-back Lloyd Kelly is wanted by Juventus, who also has interest in Arsenal’s 25-year-old Poland defender Jakub Kiwior. (Gazzetta dello Sport – in Italian)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin, a former Everton striker, wants to be signed for free, but the 28-year-old Englishman wants to see if any other Premier League clubs are interested. (Talksport)

The 24-year-old English midfielder has not yet decided on his long-term future, but West Ham are still interested in signing him from Aston Villa. (Mail)

Giovanni Leoni, an 18-year-old Italian from Parma, is one of the young centre-backs Liverpool have been looking at throughout Europe. (Times: A subscription required)

Malick Thiaw, a 23-year-old German defender, is expected to make an approach to AC Milan. (Romano-Fabrizio)

As they attempt to close a deal for the 27-year-old, Nottingham Forest will talk with his agent about signing a player from Brazil and Juventus. (Football Italia)

Mads Bidstrup, 24, a Danish international from RB Salzburg, is at the top of Nottingham Forest’s transfer target list. (Florian Plettenberg)

Despite missing a club for a year, former Manchester United left-back Brandon Williams, 24, is wanted by a number of Championship clubs, including Hull City. (Mail)

Former Liverpool midfielder Bobby Clark is set to join Derby County on a season-long loan deal from RB Salzburg, who is just 20 years old. (Sky Sports)

Lord’s and Hundred Men’s competition

London Spirit 80 all out (94 balls): Rashid Khan 3-11, S Curran 3-18

Oval Invincibles 81-4 (69 balls): Jacks 24 (24), Dawson 2-9

Six wickets separated Invincibles.

As Oval Invincibles clinched a thumping six-wicket victory at Lord’s, London Spirit were penalized for the second-lowest score by a men’s team in The Hundred.

After choosing to bat first, Spirit quickly found themselves in trouble and duly lost the game after 94 balls to reach 80 all out.

Rashid Khan, the Invincibles debutant, took 3-11, while Sam Curran, the all-around England player, took 3-18, the slowest wicket-taking ball by a seamer in the men’s history of the game.

With a mediocre 10-ball opening set, Jason Behrendorff set the tone for an impressive Oval Invincibles bowling and fielding performance.

In his next five starts, Keaton Jennings had already left before the Australian left-arm seamer made a second comeback to dismiss Spirit skipper Kane Williamson.

In his Hundred debut, David Warner struggled to make up for Jordan Clark’s nine-minute lack of powerplay and his own time was wasted trying to make up for it.

Spirit 26-3 was in trouble, but the damage was not all that bad. Rashid Khan enter.

In a 10-ball set that went for 10 runs, the Afghan leg-spinner, who also had three catches in the deep, used his third ball to show off his full arsenal of deliveries, varying his delivery speed to great effect, before striking again with his third ball to remove Wayne Madsen.

In his next ten balls, he only allowed one more run. As Spirit’s batters attempted and failed to grasp the best T20 wicket-taker of all time, Liam Dawson was stranded in front and Ryan Higgins dolled a catch backward.

Rashid’s deliveries were significantly quicker than Curran’s ultra-slow balls when they were being used.

With a 47.7mph ball before going even slower to bowl Richard Gleeson, the Spirit batters appeared to be completely out of the bag. The left-armer removed Ashton Turner, who had already top-scored for Spirit with 21 and struck out 47.

With only a small amount of time to go, Invincibles were able to take their time on a challenging pitch, and it was only a matter of when, not whether the winners would win.

On Wednesday, Manchester Originals take on Southern Brave in a second double-header at Old Trafford.

The Hundred men’s competition, Lord’s

London Spirit 80 all out (94 balls): Rashid Khan 3-11, S Curran 3-18

Oval Invincibles 81-4 (69 balls): Jacks 24 (24), Dawson 2-9

Invincibles won by six wickets

London Spirit were bowled out for the second-lowest score by a men’s team in The Hundred as Oval Invincibles claimed a thumping six-wicket win at Lord’s.

After opting to bat first, Spirit quickly found themselves in trouble and duly slumped to 80 all out after 94 balls.

Invincibles debutant Rashid Khan starred as he took 3-11, while England all-rounder Sam Curran claimed 3-18 – including a 47.1mph delivery, the slowest wicket-taking ball by a seamer in the history of the men’s competition.

Jason Behrendorff set the tone for an impressive Oval Invincibles bowling and fielding effort with a miserly 10-ball opening set.

The Australian left-arm seamer returned to dismiss Spirit skipper Kane Williamson in his next five, by which time opener Keaton Jennings had already gone.

David Warner, making his Hundred debut, was starved of the strike in the powerplay and in trying to make up for lost time holed out off Jordan Clark for just nine.

That left Spirit 26-3, in bother but the damage was far from terminal. Enter Rashid Khan.

The Afghanistan leg-spinner – who also took three catches in the deep – struck with his third ball to remove Wayne Madsen in a 10-ball set that went for 10 runs, and proceeded to show off his full arsenal of deliveries, varying his pace to great effect.

He conceded just one more run in his next 10 balls. Liam Dawson was trapped plumb in front and Ryan Higgins dollied a catch to backward point as Spirit’s batters tried and failed to get to grips with the top T20 wicket-taker of all time.

Plenty of Rashid’s deliveries were significantly quicker than the ultra-slow balls being deployed by Curran.

The lack of pace seemed to throw off the Spirit batters completely and the left-armer removed Ashton Turner, who top-scored for Spirit with 21, with a 47.7mph ball before going even slower to bowl Richard Gleeson and end the innings.

With such a small total to chase, Invincibles were able to take their time on a tricky pitch and despite Spirit spinner Dawson’s excellent 2-9, it was only a matter of when rather than if the holders would seal the win.

It’s up to Old Trafford on Wednesday as Manchester Originals take on Southern Brave in another double-header.