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Over the past 20 years, racism in sport, particularly football, has been recognised as a significant problem, on the pitch, in the stands and within clubs. The issue is being proactively addressed at multiple levels, from national initiatives by sports governing bodies to policies implemented by individual clubs and fans, all designed to challenge discrimination, encourage inclusive practices, and work for positive change.
The University of Leicester pioneered research into sports spectator statistics and analysis and later specialised in assessing the effectiveness of anti-racism and social inclusion strategies. Its research has been used by sports organisations to identify the scale of the problem and to guide and inform work to combat it.
Dr Andy Pitchford's research has been a significant influence on the development of policies and services at The Football Association in the period from 2008 to 2013. During this time, the Association's approach to children and the youth game has changed dramatically, culminating in a range of interventions, new training resources and a major system overhaul in 2012. These change programmes have been directly informed by academic research by Pitchford and colleagues, by commissioned evaluations and related media coverage.