Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari has called for sharing of data to help the fight against discrimination and highlighted online abuse as a particular area of concern.

The equality and inclusion charity has published its latest annual findings and revealed 2019-20 saw a 42 per cent increase in reports made to it of discrimination at matches in the professional game.

That is despite the impact on the season of the coronavirus pandemic, with games after the suspension in March being played without fans present and other fixtures cancelled.

The figure went up from 313 in 2018-19 to 446. There was an increase of 53 per cent in reported racial abuse, up from 184 to 282, and a 95 per cent rise in reports of abuse based on sexual orientation, 117 compared to 60.

“My challenge to everyone is: this is what we’re going to be doing – campaigning, creating talent programmes, doing advocacy, working with government, law enforcement, clubs and governing bodies – but what are you going to do individually, how are you going to take a stand?”

At grassroots level, the number of reports to the charity was down from 113 to 94, but that was with seasons ending in March, and comparing it to the equivalent period in 2018-19, there was an 11 per cent increase.

Paul Elliott, chair of the Football Association’s inclusion advisory board, said: “The FA has made huge strides in recent years to ensure that English football is a diverse and inclusive game, but we know there is more to be done.

“We strongly condemn all forms of discrimination and, while only participants fall under the FA’s jurisdiction, we investigate all reported forms of discriminatory abuse in English football at every level of the game, and work closely with the relevant authorities to ensure matters are dealt with appropriately.”