The EFL will once again be marking Together Against Racism as it stands side by side with Clubs, players, managers and supporters to remove racism from our game.

Together Against Racism will run from 17-27 October to highlight the work the League and its 72 member clubs deliver all season long to combat racism and build stronger, more united communities.

Clubs will host dedicated matchdays across the window, as well as share stories across their platforms, celebrating their diverse communities and showcasing their wider work in this space.

Why we deliver Together Against Racism?

Football is a game for everyone, everywhere, and we are proud of the welcoming atmosphere that fans create at EFL grounds around the country every matchday.

However, last season there were still 141 incidents of racist abuse at EFL grounds and more than 5000 incidents of online abuse, with more likely going unrecorded.

To tackle the rise in online abuse and protect players, the EFL employs Athletia, a social media monitoring system that reviews public posts relating to players and officials across EFL Clubs. The system found approximately 900 individual players were subjected to online abuse at some point during the 2024/25 season. The League continues to work with social media platforms and the Football Policing Unit to ensure perpetrators are identified and sanctioned accordingly. Our players, colleagues and supporters should all feel safe online.

Those engaging in racist abuse face up to five years in prison and football stadium bans of 10 years. Last season, approximately 17 fans were banned from their Clubs and 24 faced police convictions for racist abuse at EFL grounds, 26 were referred for restorative justice and there are more than 80 cases still under investigation.

Together Against Racism is a reminder that our game is for everyone, an opportunity to show you that your reports make a huge impact and a reminder to keep reporting any incidents of racism you see or hear so that together we can make football an even more welcoming and safe environment for all.

Ahead of the launch of Together Against Racism, Trevor Birch, Chief Executive of the EFL said:

“The EFL stands united with our Clubs, players, managers, and supporters in the fight against racism. We’ve made meaningful progress through the introduction of a mandatory Code of Practice, the launch of a Club Education Hub, and the implementation of robust reporting mechanisms to ensure discrimination is identified and sanctioned.

“Positive action is being taken, including issuing stadium bans to individuals who engage in discriminatory behaviour, referring cases of online abuse to the relevant authorities, and supporting the rehabilitation of offenders so they can understand the real-life consequences of their actions. This is a multi-faceted approach—and crucially, the work does not stop here.

“We are determined to ensure the EFL truly reflects the diverse communities we represent. We continue to work with our 72 Clubs and partners to foster inclusion, tackle underrepresentation, and create a welcoming environment for all. Racist abuse, whether in stadiums or online, has no place in society. Together, we will keep striving for a future where football is open, safe, and enjoyable for everyone.”

One League. One Community. Together Against Racism.

One League. One Community. Together Against Racism.