Kick It Out chief calls for collective responsibility after 42% rise in cases

Football’s inability to solve its ­racism crisis has once again been laid bare with yet another rise – this time of 42 per cent – in reported incidents last season.

The anti-discrimination watchdog Kick It Out has revealed reports it received rose from 313 in 2018-19 to 446, despite some games being behind closed doors.

Reports of racism in the professional game rose by 53 per cent and those of abuse based on sexual orientation ­increased by 95 per cent.

A YouGov poll also found 71 per cent had seen players targeted by racism on social media. It should not come as a shock to any of us given what we ­witnessed last term.

It also underlines why players are set to take ­matters into their own hands in the coming ­campaign, using their ­platforms online and in the media to stage their own protests.

Kick It Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari said: “We need to work together across society to win this battle. We need better regulation and enforcement, and need ­social media companies to be part of the solution.

“We need clubs and governing bodies to continue to lobby for change, sanction ­offending supporters and support law ­enforcement processes with the provision of evidence.

“We need players to continue to use their powerful voices. Kick It Out will play its part with campaigning, education and talent programmes that diversify the face of football.

“But this is everyone’s ­responsibility. We all need to take a stand.”

Despite the messages of solidarity from clubs and the footballing authorities after the death of George Floyd on May 25, ­players still head into the next 10 months well aware they will be forced to deal with racist abuse.

Earlier this summer, Mirror Sport ­highlighted the frustration of Crystal ­Palace striker ­Wilfried Zaha, who revealed he had been deluged even after a 12-year-old had been arrested for targeting him.

Striker Jonathan Leko ­revealed in March he would “question” whether to report racism again after waiting seven months for a ­resolution following the abuse he ­endured while on loan at Charlton from Kiko Casilla, the Leeds keeper banned for eight games after calling him a n****r.

Players across the country have long since lost faith in the messaging ­campaigns and badges throughout the game while the abuse continues.

Last month, the FA warned that clubs could face stadium closures under new measures to punish discrimination. Even then, stadium closures have done little to stop the spread of racist abuse.

The rules come into effect next ­season and apply to all domestic ­competitions, meaning teams would be penalised for incidents such as ­discriminatory chanting by fans.

Players and coaches can also be banned for six to 12 games for almost all acts of discrimination.

If an offence is “in writing only or via any communication device” or there is another mitigating factor, the minimum ban is three matches.

But with fans defending their clubs’ stars and even managers prepared to ­defend the indefensible as far as their top players are concerned, the game ­continues to struggle to find a way to deal with the problem.