17.03.2014

English FA launches campaign to encourage reporting of discrimination

A series of animated short films, designed to inform supporters on how to report discrimination, has been launched in the frame of the English Football Association (FA) newest anti-discrimination campaign that kicks-off today (17 March).

The four 'Reporting Discrimination' films aim to encourage those who feel that they have been discriminated against, or have witnessed discriminatory behaviour, to report it.

“We know under-reporting of discrimination in the game is an issue, therefore instilling confidence is key.” said the FA board member and Chair of the Inclusion Advisory Board Heather Rabbatts.

“The FA and the Inclusion Advisory Board has worked with stakeholders across the game in developing these films which hope to convey how easy it is to report.” she explained.

The films and the guidance booklets, featuring stills from the films, explain to participants and supporters how to report discrimination at both professional and grassroots level.

The former English internationals Dion Dublin and Graeme Le Saux joined the initiative by presenting the films.

“When discrimination takes place at any level of the game, we need to ensure that we can take positive action, and the best means of ensuring that is to encourage players and supporters to report it” said the former Chelsea player Graeme Le Saux.

"These films will help explain to players and supporters both the importance of reporting discrimination and highlight the many ways in which they can do so." he added.

The campaign was developed in cooperation with the inclusion and equality charity Kick It Out, who has developed a free mobile application that allows players and fans to directly report discriminatory abuse.

Report incident