A significant shift appears to be underway in how football addresses the deep-seated issue of sexism and misogyny within its culture. Recent high-profile cases suggest a growing intolerance for behaviour long dismissed as mere ‘banter,’ signalling a potential turning point in the sport’s accountability.
The past week alone saw a former professional player receive a criminal sentence for a series of abusive online posts directed at female pundits. Simultaneously, a manager in the English Football League became the first to be formally charged with using sexist language towards a match official. These developments follow other incidents in recent months where clubs have faced sanctions and matches have been abandoned due to the targeting of women in officiating roles.
While such abuse is sadly not new, the increasing visibility of concrete consequences marks a critical change. This emerging pattern of accountability is vital to challenging a culture where harmful behaviour has too often gone unchecked. New data indicates a sharp rise in formal reports of sexist incidents this season, with figures nearly quadrupling compared to the same period last year. This includes a record number of cases involving coordinated sexist chanting from crowds.
An increase in reports, while concerning in one sense, is also a sign of progress. It reflects a growing willingness among those affected to speak out, breaking a longstanding cycle of silence driven by the belief that complaints would be ignored. The nature of the abuse being reported is stark, ranging from vile sexualised chants aimed at female fans to a barrage of lewd and abusive language hurled at officials simply for doing their jobs. The consistent message to women is that they are interlopers in a male domain.
This toxic environment is not confined to the professional game; it permeates the grassroots level. Girls’ teams competing in boys’ leagues frequently face sexist remarks from spectators and even opposition coaches, with the very presence of female players and managers treated as a provocation. The entitlement some feel to degrade and intimidate women in football settings remains a pervasive problem.
However, the recent wave of sanctions and the surge in reporting offer a glimmer of hope. They represent a recognition that a significant portion of the football community has had enough and is demanding change. There is a long road ahead, and reports will likely continue to climb as more individuals find the courage to come forward. But the building momentum for accountability suggests that the sport may finally be ready to seriously confront one of the fastest-growing forms of abuse within its grounds.