This archive report was first published on 24 July 2019.
English football has been marred by a rise in racist abuse, with reports increasing by 43% in the 2018-19 season, according to anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out.
According to statistics gathered by the organisation, reports of all forms of discrimination in professional and grassroots football increased by 32% to 422, up from 319 during the 2017-18 season.
Reports of racist abuse in professional football alone rose by 46%, with 159 reports coming from social media.
Faith-based discrimination, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, saw a 75% increase, with reports rising from 36 to 63.
It is the seventh consecutive year that reported incidents of discrimination within football have increased, with the total number of reports reaching 581, more than double the figure from five years ago.
"Football reflects the society it is played and watched in, and these figures are sadly not surprising," said Kick It Out chief executive Roisin Wood.
"The fact that racist reports have risen by 43% clearly shows the massive work that all of football still needs to do to challenge this. In 2019, we need to ask the question: what can we do better and what is not working?"
The Football Association responded to the figures, stating that they have made huge strides in recent years to ensure that English football is a diverse and inclusive game.
They launched their 'In Pursuit of Progress' inclusion plan, which has clear targets and ambitions to make sure the game better reflects modern society.
Incidents of racist abuse marred the 2018-19 season, with several players facing abuse, including Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Players, including Sterling, have been vocal in condemning the racist abuse they have received, with Sterling questioning the portrayal of black players in the media and suggesting that it feeds prejudice and aggressive behaviour.
Players have also been encouraged to boycott social media for 24 hours as part of the #Enough campaign, and Kick It Out has renewed its call for social media platforms and the government to help tackle growing incidents of online hate.
