This project was led by Dr Mark Doidge, Reader in Sociology of Sport at Loughborough University, alongside Dr Aarti Ratna from Solent University and Dr Fiona Skillen from Glasgow Caledonian University and in collaboration with Fans for Diversity.
The event included an expert panel, an art exhibition and a spoken word performance.
Sport and Exercise Psychology student and football player, Khaya Nagar, joined the expert panel alongside Nilesh Chauhan (Fans For Diversity Campaign Manager), and Mohammed Ullah (Blue Crescent fan group). Khaya shared her personal experiences and insights as a woman in football, adding valuable perspectives to the discussions.
The key findings of this project showed that there are still many barriers for fans to attend matches. This is particularly true for disabled fans where many clubs fail to provide suitable facilities and supportive stewards. In some cases, disabled fans are forced to sit in the home end which makes them a target of abuse and hate crime.
Other marginalised groups have begun to assert themselves in the stadium, particularly for fans from LGBTQ+, female and racialised groups. Whilst these provide a sense of community and solidarity, it can lead to them becoming a target. This is where Fans For Diversity and clubs have a key role in supporting these fans and helping reinforce the fact that all fans have a right to be in the stadium.
Attendees found the event insightful and eye-opening. It highlighted significant barriers for marginalised groups within football and covered the many different types of barriers faced.