Abusive chanting against immigrants in English football on rise, new data reveals

The growth in anti-immigrant rhetoric was consistent with a broader rise in reports of discrimination, both at matches and online. Photograph: Kick It Out

Abusive chanting against immigrants has become a feature of football matches in England, according to new data from Kick It Out.

Last season 39 reports of anti-immigrant abuse were made to the anti-discrimination charity, more than the previous two seasons combined. Phrases such as “stop the boats” and “send them back” were reported as being heard “at all levels of the game”, Kick It Out said.