- FvH responds to the Football Association’s 2024-25 season Annual Grassroots Discipline Review
- Review shows a rise in the number of allegations related to sexual orientation, with 34% resulting in proven charges
- There are still more proven disciplinary charges for homophobia at this level of football than for any other type of discrimination
The Football v Homophobia campaign notes from the latest FA Grassroots Discipline Review that “offences referencing sexual orientation have continued to rise” within the wider context of data presented from the 2024/25 season.
The FA has highlighted to FvH that the increase in discriminatory allegations of this type is small compared to last season, when correlated with the number of fixtures played in England.
The national governing body also says that the increase in allegations suggests “participants are becoming more confident in reporting misconduct and are better informed about how to do so.”
As was the case 12 months ago, when FvH shared “alarming” figures of a rise in reports of homophobia at grassroots level, we believe there should be specific caveats around this new data as it relates to LGBTQ+ people.
The latest Review mentions independent research which shows “for every serious case reported, an estimated 2.19 incidents actually occur.”
In its campaigning, FvH always urges people who have witnessed anti-LGBTQ+ language and behaviour in football to report these incidents. Yet under-reporting is already known to be more significant for this type of discrimination, as borne out by specific research (e.g. Galop, Oct 2025; and Russell, O’Brien and Boulton (LJMU) in The Police Journal, Nov 2025).
Meanwhile, FvH continues to hear anecdotally from both LGBTQ+ people and allies that they are hearing homophobic language more frequently at grassroots level than in previous seasons.
We believe declining standards on social media and the way in which some individuals feel increasingly emboldened to be discriminatory, often citing their “freedom of speech”, are two factors impacting football in this regard.
While the FA has acknowledged the existence of a “reporting gap” and says it remains committed to closing this, FvH is also concerned by a sharp decrease in both the number of charges for homophobia and the number of proven charges. Only 34% of allegations relating to sexual orientation conclude in the outcome of a proven charge.
The FA attributes this to “the ongoing refinement of our investigative processes, ensuring that only cases meeting the required burden of proof proceed to charge.”
When FvH put this to several members of the LGBTQ+ community who play affiliated grassroots football, and asked them to share their experiences, all expressed frustrations with the immense challenge of somehow ‘proving’ incidents of homophobic language or behaviour that have not been heard or seen by match officials or by multiple witnesses.
Often, outcomes are further impeded by individuals choosing not to provide statements or disengaging from the disciplinary process.
The consequence is that, while stricter punishments and some new interventions are being implemented, there remains a noticeable shortfall in targeted education on tackling homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. FvH strongly believes this would make a tangible difference to LGBTQ+ people already in or looking to access the grassroots game.
Our 2024-25 season Annual Grassroots Discipline Review has been published today, providing an overview of serious misconduct cases that are overseen by our Grassroots Discipline Team.
— The FA (@FA) December 9, 2025
While the data transparency of the FA Review is welcomed, it should also be noted that there appears to be a disparity in approaches taken by County FAs, with only a handful of the 50 CFAs sharing their own disciplinary reports publicly and/or engaging with their local LGBTQ+ communities in a meaningful way.
Also, there remains no such equivalent Review for Steps 1 to 4 of men’s football. The FA’s processes regularly produce documents showing proven charges of homophobic incidents in National League divisions and the 12 leagues immediately below, but no insights are publicly available. It is not clear why this should still be the case.
This time last year, FvH suggested football authorities should amplify clearer, LGBTQ+-specific anti-discrimination messaging during the campaign’s annual Month of Action in February.
In the Summary of its latest Grassroots Review, The FA says “it recognises that there is always more to be done” and pledges to work “collaboratively” to achieve this.
As a long-standing Pride Sports inclusion initiative that is recognised on The FA’s website as a stakeholder and partner, and whose activities continue to build LGBTQ+ visibility and representation across football, FvH shares in the wider ambition of a game free from discrimination.
The campaign continues to deliver resources and training in pursuit of this goal. In February 2025, at least 14 men’s grassroots leagues representing around 800 clubs signed up in support of the FvH Month of Action, demonstrating their commitment.
Alongside what we know about the “reporting gap” and the concerns about meeting a burden of proof, the Review shows there are more proven disciplinary charges for homophobia at this level of football than for any other type of discrimination.
There is certainly more to be done. FvH will continue to advocate for greater education as we know that prevention means retention, creating more inclusive environments in which LGBTQ+ people keep playing, coaching and officiating when they might otherwise be lost to the game.
12 December 2025
Notes for editors
About Football v Homophobia
Launched in 2010, Football v Homophobia (FvH) is an international initiative that exists to challenge discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression at all levels of football.
We want football to take a clear stand against homophobia and transphobia so that everyone can enjoy the beautiful game and so that football leads the way in removing discrimination and prejudice based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Learn more here.
The annual Month of Action for the FvH campaign is held every February, in what is also LGBT+ History Month.
Clubs, groups, leagues and organisations are invited to register now for February 2026. See our 2025 list of Champions here and our grassroots section for 2026.
FvH provides education sessions for players from U10s to first team. Access free resources and get campaign items from the FvH Shop.
For more news and content relating to FvH, as well as our Football v Transphobia initiative, visit our archive.
Make an enquiry at info@footballvhomophobia.com.
Contacts
Lou Englefield, FvH campaign director
lou@footballvhomophobia.com
Jon Holmes, FvH media consultant
jon@footballvhomophobia.com