The University of Leicester and Kick It Out will put hate and discrimination in football under the spotlight at Labour Party Conference next week, asking what the game reveals about wider divisions in society — and how to build more inclusive communities.
Hosted by Leicester’s Institute for Policy, the session How do we build more inclusive communities? brings together Professor Neil Chakraborti, Director of the university’s Centre for Hate Studies and Institute for Policy, and Samuel Okafor, Chief Executive of Kick It Out, for a live discussion in Liverpool on Tuesday 29 September.
Against a backdrop of concern about social cohesion, online abuse and polarisation, the panel will explore how football has become a lens on identity, belonging and community. Kick It Out’s latest figures recorded 1,744 reports of discrimination in the 2025/26 season — a 25 per cent rise on the previous year.
Drawing on academic research and frontline experience, the speakers will examine how hate is evolving online and offline, its impact on communities, and the practical interventions evidence suggests can make a difference.
Chakraborti: ‘What football can tell us about hate today’
Professor Chakraborti said football can both unite people and reflect wider tensions — and that the conference conversation should focus on what works.
“Football brings together people from every background, but it can also reflect the prejudices and tensions that exist within society. This conversation is about understanding what football can tell us about hate today and, crucially, what works when it comes to building stronger and more inclusive communities.”
Okafor: ‘Football can drive out hate’
Samuel Okafor said Kick It Out regularly sees the dial shift when football unites behind a common cause, and argued the game can model inclusion as society becomes more polarised.
“Football has a unique unifying power and an ability to drive positive change and bring communities together. Across our work at Kick It Out we have seen regularly how the dial can shift when football unites on a common cause. As society becomes more polarised and divided, we believe football can play a significant role in demonstrating how we promote inclusion, champion diversity and continually challenge hate in all its forms. This conversation provides an opportunity to explore how football can be a vehicle to drive out hate and create a more united society.”
How do we build more inclusive communities? takes place on Tuesday 29 September 2026, 2pm to 2.50pm, in the Albert Johstone Room, Novotel Liverpool Centre, Liverpool L1 4LN.
