In England and Wales, nearly half of female soccer spectators are subjected to sexist abuse during matches

A new study conducted by the anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out revealed on Wednesday that nearly half of female soccer fans in England and Wales have personally experienced discriminatory or misogynistic abuse at matches. However, the majority of these fans have never reported the incident to authorities.

The 1,502 individuals who were surveyed reported experiencing sexist behavior, including persistent badgering, being questioned about their knowledge of the rules, and wolf-whistling. Of these individuals, 7% reported being touched inappropriately, 3% were victims of physical violence, and 2% were sexually assaulted or harassed.

Despite the fact that the research indicated that sexism remained a significant issue for female match-goers and non-binary supporters, 77% of respondents reported feeling secure while attending matches, and four out of ten claimed that their experiences had improved over time.

However, the research indicated that ethnic minorities, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, and younger individuals were more likely to experience sexism and feel unsafe in a soccer context.

According to the survey, the overwhelming majority of respondents (85%) stated that they had never reported the abuse, primarily due to their belief that it would not have a significant impact.

“In order to guarantee that sexism is taken seriously and that women feel secure and empowered to report discrimination, football must take action,” stated Hollie Varney of Kick It Out. “We’ve seen reports of sexism to Kick It Out increase significantly in recent seasons.”

The research has also emphasized the use of discriminatory language, with 53% of respondents reporting that they have either witnessed or experienced women being instructed to be elsewhere, such as “back in the kitchen.”

Kick It Out has initiated a campaign to inform female fans that sexist abuse is discrimination and can be reported, as well as to demonstrate to male supporters how to challenge such behaviors when they observe them, utilizing the research data.

Reports of sexism in soccer extend beyond the experiences of spectators. Richard Scudamore, the former chief executive of the Premier League, was compelled to apologize in 2014 after a female employee disclosed misogynistic emails he had sent to his friends.

The British Football Association was compelled to issue an apology in 2018 after being accused of misogyny for posting a photo of the England women’s soccer team on X with the caption, “Scrub up well, don’t they?”

Luis Rubiales, the former chief of the Spanish soccer federation, will be tried for his unsolicited greeting of Jenni Hermoso, a member of the women’s national team, in August of last year. This demonstrated to both players and spectators that, despite the advancements made in the women’s game, additional structural changes were required.