It’s time to nominate for the annual Football v Homophobia Awards, recognising achievements and excellence at all levels of the game, in the UK and overseas.
This is the 8th edition of the FvH Awards, a unique celebration that unites our community of LGBTQ+ people and allies in football, culminating in a gala ceremony.
Since the event began in 2020, more than 200 deserving clubs, teams, fan groups, organisations and individuals have been honoured for their sterling work in making football more welcoming and inclusive.
At a time when reports of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination are rising in sports and society, the FvH Awards remind us of the importance of creating spaces for everyone. Thank you to all our supporters and sponsors - without you, this event wouldn’t be possible.
So who deserves to be recognised this time? We need YOU to submit nominations in the 12 different categories, according to the criteria. It’s totally FREE to nominate, and you can do so for as many categories as you like.
The closing date for entries is Friday 11th December 2026 (11.59pm GMT).
A panel of judges, each with experience and expertise in LGBTQ+ inclusive football, will carefully consider all the entries before deciding the final shortlists, which will be announced in early January 2027.
Shortlisted nominees will then receive special invitations to the FvH Awards gala night, which will be held at The Majestic Hotel in Cardiff on Friday 12th February 2027, during the FvH campaign’s Month of Action.
Read the criteria before nominating
How to Nominate - a step-by-step guide
Please start here before submitting your nominations!
Read the criteria
Carefully read the criteria under the form for ALL the categories. This will help you ensure your nominee has the best chance of being shortlisted.
Give examples
Give examples to show how the nominee meets the criteria and the impact they have made. Include URLs and attach files to support the entry.
Provide context
Provide context and explanations for the judging panel to consider.
Don't be neutral!
You are encouraged to nominate your club, group, yourself, etc.
Nominate in multiple categories
If the nominee is eligible for more than one category, submit separate nominations and make sure each entry meets the specific category criteria.
If you have any supporting evidence for your nomination, please email this to info@footballvhomophobia.com
Professional Game Award
This category is for clubs playing in the higher professional leagues in England, Scotland and Wales, in men's and women's football. Specifically:
- England: men's levels 1-4 (Premier League, EFL Championship, League 1, League 2) and women's levels 1-2 (Women's Super League, WSL 2)
- Scotland: men's levels 1-4 (SPFL - Scottish Premiership, Championship, League, League 2) and women's levels 1-2 (Scottish Women's Premier League, SWPL 2)
- Wales: men's levels 1-2 (Cymru Premier, Cymru North and South divisions) and women's level 1 (Adran Premier)
This category is NOT for individual people or for supporters groups.
We want to see clubs nominated who have tried to integrate LGBTQ+ inclusion into the foundations of the club. Professional clubs could have, for example:
- Publicly supported LGBTQ+ people at games, on social media channels or through work with players or fans
- Worked with internal staff or players to help them gain a better understanding of the issues around LGBTQ+ inclusion in football
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action or engaged in other similar campaigns
- Engaged with or supported an LGBTQ+ supporters' group
Semi-Pro Game Award
This category is for clubs and leagues outside of the higher professional game in England, Scotland and Wales, but above grassroots, in both men's and women's football. Specifically:
England: men's levels 5-10 (from National League down to Step 6) and women's levels 3-4 (all divisions of FA Women's National League)
Scotland: men's level 5 (Highland League and Lowland League) and women's level 3-4 (Scottish Women's Championship and League 1)
Wales: men's level 3 (all divisions of Ardal Leagues) and women's level 2 (Adran North and Adran South)
This category is NOT for individual people or for supporters groups.
The award will be made to an eligible club or league which has gone above and beyond to tackle issues of exclusion in the game over the past year. Clubs and leagues in this category could have, for example:
- Worked to make the club or league more inclusive for LGBTQ+ people
- Publicly supported the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people
- Implemented training for staff, volunteers and players
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action or engaged in other similar campaigns/charities
- Worked with the community to promote a better understanding of the issues faced by LGBTQ+ people in football, or worked on greater inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within the club or league
Supporters Group Award
For this award, we are looking for nominees who have worked to make professional or semi-professional football inclusive of LGBTQ+ fans over the past year. This award is open to all UK-based football supporters groups, but not individual people, and we welcome applications from across the fan movement. For example, supporters groups could have:
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action or other similar campaigns
- Worked with their club to give a voice to LGBTQ+ fans and make positive changes to the experience of LGBTQ+ supporters
- Worked to give LGBTQ+ people confidence to attend matches and re-engage LGBTQ+ fans who may have stopped attending
- Created strong alliances with other fan groups and initiated dialogue amongst fans on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Grassroots Game Award
This category is for any Grassroots club, team or league in the UK which has excelled at making itself a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ people. This includes all clubs, teams and leagues which do not fall into either the Professional Game or Semi-Pro (Non-League) Game categories.
This category is NOT for individual people or for supporters groups.
We are looking to see nominations for Grassroots clubs, teams and leagues that have publicly taken a stand against LGBTQ+phobia and actively worked to make their club, team or league inclusive over the past year. Entries in this category could have:
- Worked to actively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and tackle LGBTQ+phobia
- Run internal campaigns and engaged with the FVH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action or similar campaigns, to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and tackle LGBTQ+ phobia
- Worked with players, coaches, parents/spectators and/or committee members to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and tackle LGBTQ+phobia
- Worked with LGBTQ+ organisations/community to increase understanding of issues faced by LGBTQ+ people within football and to reduce barriers to participation
FvH Cymru Award
The FvH Cymru Award is for a club, team, league, group, individual or organisation in Wales that has worked to make Welsh football more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people over the past year. Nominees are welcome from any level and aspect of the Welsh game. Nominees for this award may have:
- Worked to create LGBTQ+ inclusive football spaces in Wales
- Worked to tackle LGBTQ+phobia in the Welsh game
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action, or engaged in other similar campaigns
- Used their platform to speak out against LGBTQ+phobia
FvH Hero Award
The Football v Homophobia Hero Award goes to an individual in the UK who has shown dedication and passion for improving football, by fighting LGBTQ+phobia and promoting better inclusion for LGBTQ+ people, making the beautiful game, a game for everyone! This individual could be nominated for one extraordinary piece of work, or for consistent work over a period of time at any level of football. Please be aware that groups/clubs will not be considered for this award, it is for individuals only. The Football v Homophobia Hero should be someone who, for example:
- Consistently demonstrates their passion, skills and knowledge in football and in the issues facing the LGBTQ+ community
- Works in an innovative and sustainable way to improve football for LGBTQ+ people
- Has the support of their peers
- Is a role model and inspires those around them to fight LGBTQ+phobia and create more inclusive spaces in the game.
Women's Game Award
The Women’s Game Award is for a club, team, league, group, individual or organisation in England, Wales or Scotland that has worked to make the women’s game more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people over the past year. Nominees are welcome from any level and aspect of the women’s game. Nominees for this award may have:
- Opened women’s teams to trans and non-binary players
- Worked to create LGBTQ+ inclusive women’s football spaces
- Worked to tackle LGBTQ+phobia in the women’s game
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action, or engaged in other similar campaigns
- Used their platform to speak out against LGBTQ+phobia or for LGBTQ+ inclusion
FvH Scotland Award
The FvH Scotland Award is for a club, team, league, group, individual or organisation that has worked to make Scottish football more inclusive of LGBTQ+ people over the past year. Nominees are welcome from any level and aspect of the Scottish game. Nominees for this award may have:
- Spearheaded LGBTQ+ inclusion initiatives within their football community
- Acted as an exceptional role model within Scottish football
- Taken part in the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action, or engaged in other similar campaigns
- Worked with the LGBTQ+ community to reduce barriers to participation
International Award
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The International Award is for those outside of England, Wales and Scotland - clubs, teams, leagues, groups, stakeholders, organisations big or small, and individuals who have delivered exceptional work over the past 12 months to make football a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Whether it’s enabling LGBTQ+ people to get involved in the game, using football as a tool to create positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities, or educating young people in football environments, our winner will:
- Have centered the experience of LGBTQ+ people or one LGBTQ+ group in particular
- Be able to describe the need for their work
- Quantify the impact of their work in its local context
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Football Media Award
The Football Media Award is for football journalists, broadcasters, podcasters, photographers, filmmakers, content creators, publishers and media outlets that have worked respectfully and inclusively in relation to LGBTQ+ people in football. Entries can be from anywhere in the world, and relevant supporting materials (URLs, images, files etc) should be provided. In particular, the judges are looking for those who:
- Amplified the voices/profile of LGBTQ+ people in football
- Challenged assumptions about LGBTQ+ people’s place in football
- Investigated the impact of football on LGBTQ+ people/communities
- Celebrated the contributions of LGBTQ+ people to football
Community Trust or Foundation Award
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The Community Trust or Foundation Award recognises the important contribution Professional and Semi-Professional Club charities make to increasing LGBTQ+ inclusion, as well as addressing LGBTQ+phobia within their community. This award is open to nominations for football Community Trusts or Foundations which, for example, may have:
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- Provided support to LGBTQ+ clubs or LGBTQ+ football activity within their community
- Worked to spread a message of LGBTQ+ inclusion to local young people
- Embedded LGBTQ+ inclusion across the organisation, including within decision making
- Undertaken training or education in relation to LGBTQ+ inclusion
- Ensured LGBTQ+ inclusive communications across social media, website and public communications
- Engaged with the FvH Month of Action, FvT Week of Action, or engaged in other similar campaigns
- Engaged local LGBTQ+ groups and consulted with the community to understand the issues LGBTQ+ people face in football and increasing access to participation
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