93% of LGBTQ people want tougher action against homophobia in football, new survey shows
Research by Out and Out Football shows 75% of survey respondents say they have experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching men’s football; survey of LGBTQ+ supporters released as Football v Homophobia’s annual Month of Action gets underway…

More than 9 in 10 people who are LGBTQ+ believe their experience of watching men’s football would improve if tackling homophobia were taken more seriously.
Nearly 200 LGBTQ+ people responded to a recent survey by Out and Out Football (OaOF), a newsletter and community project launched during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
OaOF’s survey, which ran for several weeks in late 2024, asked respondents to share their thoughts about men’s football.
85% said they watched the sport regularly or occasionally, while 81% described themselves as either fervent or casual fans.
Yet nearly three-quarters of all those surveyed said they had experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse when watching men’s football.
When asked what was likely to improve their experience, 93% said stronger enforcement of punishment for homophobia would have a positive effect.
The survey’s findings have been published to mark the start of the annual Football v Homophobia (FvH) Month of Action, in what is also LGBT+ History Month in the UK.
Every February, FvH – which is now in its 16th year – invites clubs and leagues from elite to grassroots to reaffirm their commitment to tackling discrimination in football that makes lesbian, gay, bi and trans people feel unwelcome and unsafe.
See Calendar of #FvH2025 events and designated matches here
OaOF founder Adam Haworth says: “There are things that are already making a difference to people’s experiences, namely fan groups and visibility.
“One respondent told us: “As a fan, I now have a […] supporters group and visibility from the club, which is helpful.”
“Clubs can get involved in visibility activities like Football v Homophobia by registering as an FvH Champion.
“This stuff has an impact, and we need to do more of it. But it’s not enough.”
Mind the gap – most incidents go unreported
For #FvH2025, the campaign is highlighting how a “reporting gap” is likely impeding attempts to reflect the state of anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in football accurately.
The “gap” is often evidenced in community surveys that consistently find low reporting rates for hate crime incidents of this type.
A 2021 study by Galop, the UK charity and police monitoring group, showed only one in eight anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes was officially reported, while UK Government research suggests over 90% of such incidents go unreported (National LGBT Survey, 2017).
The new OaOF survey also highlights this “gap”. Less than a quarter (23%) of the LGBTQ+ people who experienced or heard anti-LGBTQ+ abuse in football said they had reported it.
All the members of that sub-group were regular or occasional watchers of the men’s game.
The survey went on to ask ‘who did you report the anti-LGBTQ+ abuse to?’, with respondents able to select one or more options.
90% of those within the sub-group said they reported the incident to a relevant club, while 23% said they made a report to the police, and the same percentage said they submitted a report to the anti-discrimination organisation Kick It Out.
Great to attend the launch for Football v Homophobia's Month of Action at Bolton Wanderers. Including a panel on what club and leagues can do to help stop the rise of homophobia in football 🔴⚪⚫🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ #FVH2025
— Rainbow Devils (@rainbowdevils.bsky.social) January 30, 2025 at 12:03 AM
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What other data is available?
Last season, for incidents in professional or grassroots football, Kick It Out received fewer reports of discrimination related to sexual orientation than the previous year. However, for social media, there was a 51% increase in such reports to the organisation.
Meanwhile, official Home Office data shows four per cent of all men’s professional games in England and Wales in the 2023/24 season were subject to reports of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime incidents.
Reports were made at a third of all domestic first-team fixtures played by both Chelsea and Brighton.
Lower down the pyramid, the extent of the problem was highlighted again in late December when the FA published its annual Grassroots Disciplinary Review.
The statistics, compiled from incident reports at Step 5 and below of the men’s football pyramid and Step 3 and below of the women’s football pyramid, show a near 20% increase in allegations of discrimination related to sexual orientation.
The FA received 678 reports of this type at grassroots level for 2023/24, and said there were more proven charges of homophobia at this level (333) than for any other type of discrimination. Kick It Out received only 29 equivalent reports from grassroots for the same period.
‘Reporting data gives incomplete picture’
Alongside the call for tougher action against homophobia, those responding to the OaOF survey also expressed enthusiasm for greater LGBTQ+ representation in the men’s game and for campaigns such as Football v Homophobia to be strengthened.
For #FvH2025 so far, more than 20 professional clubs – including Chelsea and Leicester in the Premier League, and promotion-chasing Leeds United, Sheffield United and Sunderland in the Championship – have pledged to activate the campaign in its Month of Action by registering as FvH Champions.
Around 20 non-league clubs had signed up too, alongside 14 leagues at or below Step 3 of the men’s pyramid, representing over 800 teams.
Registrations by grassroots clubs, women’s and youth teams, fan groups, community trusts and county FAs mean the number of FvH Champions has already surpassed last season’s tally but still represents only a fraction of the football family.
Speaking after FvH’s Month of Action 2025 launch event at Bolton Wanderers, campaign director Lou Englefield said: “It’s crucial that people report incidents of homophobia in football wherever they occur so they can be investigated and acted upon.
“But LGBTQ people know this data doesn’t provide a full picture, particularly in sports.
“That’s why for this Month of Action, we’re asking clubs and leagues to reaffirm that they are FvH Champions in the ongoing fight against anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.”
To learn more about OaOF’s survey, visit outandout.football where you can also join the project’s newsletter.

#FvH2025 continues throughout February – visit footballvhomophobia.com to find out what it takes to be an FvH Champion.
On the evening of Monday 10 February, the London FA and Amateur are holding a free community event at City Hall in London to mark #FvH2025 and LGBT+ History Month. Register here.
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