English football unites over racism

Football union the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), which represents footballers in the Premier League, alongside the FA Women’s Super League and the English Football Leagues, reports that football organisations are renewing attempts to banish racism, hate and all forms of discrimination from the game.

The PFA, the League Managers Association, the Football Supporters’ Association, and the Professional Game Match Officials Limited group which officiates all premier league matches, are working with clubs and authorities to reinforce the message that discrimination will not be tolerated at any level of football and strong action will be taken against perpetrators.

It is urging fans and participants to report discrimination wherever they see or hear it.

The PFA says strong sanctions will be taken, including stadium bans, legal prosecutions, and custodial sentences, for those found guilty of discriminatory behaviour in either the stadium or online, with additional potential points deductions for clubs within the grassroots game.

Education and restorative justice initiatives will also be implemented where appropriate.

In recent years, football authorities have focussed on combatting online abuse by putting pressure on social media companies to do more to tackle hate on their platforms. And they have lobbied the government in the development of the Online Safety Bill.