This archive report was first published on 20 September 2019.
Published on September 20, 2019, government figures revealed a significant increase in hate crime reports at football matches in England and Wales during the 2018/19 season.
According to the data, incidents of hate crime rose by almost 50 percent, with 193 matches affected between August 1, 2018, and July 31, 2019, compared to 131 matches the previous year.
Of the reported incidents, 79 percent were related to race, with high-profile cases involving Manchester City's Raheem Sterling and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts stated, "Hate crime is on the rise, and this reflects some of the high-profile incidents reported over the past season." He emphasized the need for sustained focus on security to tackle these issues.
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out expressed concern over the rise in hateful behavior, urging football authorities to increase efforts to identify and punish perpetrators.
