Imagine being in the crowd, surrounded by fellow fans, when a section suddenly begins chanting, “get your ts out for the lads.” It’s an uncomfortable and unwelcome scenario that, unfortunately, is all too familiar in football culture. At Kick It Out, we continue to hear these distressing accounts. In recent months, numerous incidents of mass chanting at men’s football matches have surfaced, revealing a troubling undercurrent of sexism and misogyny that persists in the sport. These chants often target the partners of male players, degrading them by mocking their appearance and referring to them in derogatory terms such as “s*s” and “bes.” Even more alarming, some chants trivialize serious issues such as alleged sexual violence, belittling victims and turning their pain into fodder for entertainment.
As a football fan with over 25 years of experience attending matches, I have witnessed the evolution of fan culture. Heckling opposing players and referees, often crossing the line, has been a staple of the sport. However, when such behavior veers into discriminatory or abusive territory, making individuals feel targeted or unwelcome, it starkly highlights the work still needed to improve football’s culture.
Insights from Recent Research
To address these pressing issues, Kick It Out conducted research involving 1,500 women fans last season. The findings were alarming: over half of the respondents reported experiencing sexism and misogyny on matchdays. Many women shared harrowing stories of receiving lewd comments, encountering sexually aggressive language, and even facing physical threats. Clearly, I am not alone in my experiences of witnessing or enduring this unacceptable behavior.
The impact of such abuse extends beyond individual incidents. Women expressed how this hostile environment affects their relationship with the sport they love. Perhaps most concerning is that almost one in four women do not feel safe attending football matches. Underrepresented groups, including black, Asian, mixed heritage, disabled, or LGBTQ+ women, reported feeling even more vulnerable. This is a situation that must be addressed and transformed.
The Professional Environment
It is not just fans who are subjected to this toxic atmosphere; women working within football have also faced relentless misogyny over the years. Notable incidents include the harassment endured by Chelsea medic Eva Carneiro and assistant referee Helen Byrne in 2015. Fast forward a decade, and reports of female physiotherapists and referees facing abuse continue, simply for performing their roles within the game.
It appears that some fans remain oblivious to the fact that targeting women based solely on their gender is inherently wrong. Often, these individuals dismiss such behavior as “just banter,” questioning why others are “being so sensitive.” This narrative has played out time and again on social media platforms when challenges arise against such behavior.
The Need for Stronger Action
While we have welcomed the introduction of stronger bans and penalties for discriminatory conduct in stadiums in recent years, responses to sexism still seem insufficient. In my view, the lack of a robust deterrent means that many individuals believe there will be no real consequences for their actions, leading them to continue unchecked.
Misogyny is not categorized as a hate crime, and gender-related hate crimes in football have historically not been recorded by the Home Office. However, there are avenues for action against sexist chants, and we are advocating for greater awareness within law enforcement and football clubs regarding sexism and misogyny to ensure such behavior is addressed appropriately, whether through bans, fines, or educational initiatives.
Looking Ahead
So, where do we go from here? At Kick It Out, we have engaged with every major football governing body over the past 18 months to emphasize the importance of addressing sexism and misogyny seriously. Our mission is to ensure that women’s voices are heard and that this critical issue is brought into the spotlight.
- We urge clubs to adopt a more stringent stance against sexist and misogynistic chants within their stadiums, implementing a zero-tolerance policy and effectively communicating this to their fans.
- We have seen that bans, arrests, and strong statements from clubs can effectively challenge such behavior, as evidenced by Gillingham’s recent ban of two fans for misogynistic chanting, who were subsequently referred to our fan education program.
- Last season, Birmingham City also arrested two fans for similar offenses, demonstrating that action can indeed be taken. However, clubs must be proactive and collaborate with law enforcement to achieve better outcomes.
Without proactive measures from clubs, many women remain skeptical that their reports of sexist abuse will be taken seriously. Our research indicated that 85% of women who had experienced or witnessed sexism in a football setting chose not to report it because they believed it would make no difference or that they would not be heard.
That is why it is crucial for all parties involved to work together to ensure better outcomes when women report such behavior. We aim to build confidence in the reporting process, which is why we have established a new reporting partnership with Her Game Too to better support women in football. Additionally, we have created educational resources for clubs to help tackle sexism and misogyny effectively.
Women fans are invaluable to clubs; they purchase tickets, buy merchandise, and contribute to a club’s following and revenue. Therefore, they deserve to feel welcome and safe at the venues they support. This is the minimum expectation we should have for 2025, yet we are still far from reaching that goal.
