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Football antisemitism reports soar 43% as Maccabi GB calls for stronger action
Kick It Out recorded a record number of antisemitism reports as Maccabi GB urged football to strengthen education and accountability
Antisemitism reports in football have risen by 43 percent to a record high, prompting Maccabi GB to call for stronger action to protect Jewish players, supporters and staff.
New figures published by anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out show 93 reports of antisemitism were made during the 2025/26 season – the highest number since records began. Reports of antisemitism in grassroots football also reached a record level.
Across the game, Kick It Out received 1,744 reports of discrimination during the season, a 25 percent increase on the previous year.
Responding to the figures, Maccabi GB chief executive Ashley Lerner said the rise showed why tackling antisemitism must remain a priority across football.
“Every incident of discrimination and every report received is a matter of deep concern. Antisemitism, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, sexism, ableism and every other form of prejudice have no place in football or wider sport. They must be challenged consistently and eradicated from the game.
“The 43 percent rise in reports of antisemitism is particularly alarming and demonstrates why sustained education is essential. Antisemitism is not always properly recognised or understood, and people must be given the knowledge and confidence to identify it, challenge it and report it when it occurs.”
Lerner highlighted Maccabi GB’s Tackling Antisemitism in Sport programme, launched in partnership with Lord Mann and the Office of HM Government’s Independent Adviser on Antisemitism, as part of the charity’s work to improve understanding of antisemitism across the game.
He said the programme has delivered 230 workshops to around 6,000 participants over the past two and a half years, including 19 Premier League clubs, 63 English Football League clubs and 49 County Football Associations.
While welcoming the progress made through education, Lerner said it must be supported by stronger reporting systems and consequences for discriminatory behaviour.
“Education alone is not the complete answer. Strong reporting processes, appropriate sanctions, leadership and accountability are also vital. However, lasting cultural change cannot happen without education. Our 2026 evaluation shows that 92 percent of participants leave our workshops with a better understanding of antisemitism and the Jewish community, while 89 percent feel better able to identify an antisemitism incident.”
He added: “We will continue working with partners across sport to ensure Jewish players, staff and supporters feel safe, represented and welcome. The message must be unequivocal: discrimination in any form is unacceptable, and everyone involved in sport has a responsibility to confront it.”
Kick It Out’s annual figures recorded the highest overall number of discrimination reports since the organisation began collecting the data, with increases also recorded across several other forms of discrimination.
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