The EFL and all 72 Clubs are uniting across two dedicated matchdays this October in support of Together Against Racism, with players, managers and supporters standing together to send a clear message: racism has no place in our game and must be challenged wherever it occurs.
A key focus of this year’s campaign is encouraging supporters to report racist incidents at the time they occur directly to Clubs. New EFL data shows that live reporting is significantly more effective in helping identify offenders and enabling appropriate action to be taken.
During the 2025/26 season, 63% of racism-related incidents reported live to Clubs resulted in an individual being identified, while live reports accounted for almost nine in ten offender identifications (85.7%). Supporters who report incidents directly to Clubs during a match are more than twice as likely to see an offender identified compared to those who report incidents after the event.
Those identifications have led to meaningful sanctions, with 51 individuals receiving bans and a further 15 required to attend educational courses last season.
Trevor Birch, Chief Executive of the EFL, said: “Discrimination has no place in our game, online or in our communities. The EFL remains resolute in its commitment to confronting racism in all its forms.
“Football has a unique ability to bring communities together and give people a sense of belonging. Racism undermines that bond, which is why it remains critically important that the EFL, its Clubs, players, staff and supporters stand united against it wherever it is seen or heard.
“EFL data demonstrates that when incidents are reported at the time – through Club channels, to stewards or to the police – there is a significantly greater prospect of identifying those responsible and holding them to account. Last season, 51 people received bans and a further 15 attended education courses. The message is clear: the more information that is reported, the better the chance of ensuring that acts of hate have consequences.”
Education courses form part of the range of sanctions available to Clubs, including fan education programmes delivered by Kick It Out in partnership with EFL Clubs. To date, more than 550 supporters across English football have taken part in the initiative.
Supporters can find information on how to report racism and other forms of discrimination to their Club at: Report Discrimination – The English Football League
