EFL Reports Rise in Online Abuse and Racism in Football
The English Football League (EFL) has reported that approximately 900 individual players experienced online abuse during the 2024-25 season.
In figures released for the last campaign, the EFL noted 141 incidents of racist abuse at stadiums and more than 5,000 cases of online harassment.
The league estimates that 17 fans were banned from their clubs, while another 24 faced police convictions for racist behavior at EFL venues. Additionally, 26 cases were referred for restorative justice, with over 80 ongoing investigations, according to the EFL.
Recently, a League One match between Exeter City and Reading was briefly halted in the 74th minute due to a report of a racist remark directed at an Exeter player by a visiting supporter.
To address these issues, the EFL is promoting its "Together Against Racism" initiative, which runs from October 17 to 27. This campaign aims to demonstrate to fans the importance of reporting abuse and the impact it can have.
The initiative seeks to highlight the ongoing efforts of the league and its 72 member clubs to combat racism throughout the season.
"We are taking positive action, which includes issuing stadium bans to individuals who engage in discriminatory behavior, referring cases of online abuse to the relevant authorities, and supporting the rehabilitation of offenders to help them understand the consequences of their actions," said EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch.
"This is a multi-faceted approach, and importantly, our work does not end here."
In August, the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out reported a record number of discrimination cases during the 2024-25 season across all levels of football.