England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 The @footballvhomophobia.com campaign says it is “deeply concerned” by new statistics on homophobia in grassroots football and the lack of charging of perpetrators. FA data shows homophobia in grassroots football rose by more than 35% last season. sportsmedialgbt.com/grassroots-f...

Big rise in homophobia reports in grassroots football, only small increase in FA charges

Football Association data shows nearly 1,000 serious case allegations relating to sexual orientation in grassroots game in England in 2025/26; charges for this type of discrimination up by just over 2...

sportsmedialgbt.com

“It was like he was wiped off the face of the earth.” Tony Powell, a former English top flight star, vanished 40 years ago. His story is told in The Last Guest at the Holloway Motel. It is a powerful, emotional and important watch. For @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/765...

The English soccer star who vanished for 40 years to hide his secret: ‘I was living in fear’ (Gift Article)

Tony Powell lost all contact with his family and left behind his entire life for four decades after leaving Norwich City in 1981.

nytimes.com

⚽️ Nearly 1,000 reports of homophobia were made in grassroots football in England in 2025/26, up by 35% compared to 2024/25 - yet the number of FA charges for this type of discrimination rose by just 2%. Football v Homophobia says investment in achieving “better outcomes” is needed. #FvH2026 #LGBTQ

Big rise in homophobia reports in grassroots football, only small increase in FA charges

Football Association data shows nearly 1,000 serious case allegations relating to sexual orientation in grassroots game in England in 2025/26; charges for this type of discrimination up by just over 2...

sportsmedialgbt.com

Football v Homophobia has issued a statement in response to the Football Association’s 2025/26 season Annual Grassroots Behaviour and Discipline Report. For the fourth consecutive year, the report shows a rise in serious case allegations related to sexual orientation. 1/2

⚽️🌈 ICYMI over the weekend - a new episode of the FvH Podcast is OUT, previewing this Saturday’s FSA and @prideinfootball.bsky.social forum event in Nottingham. 🎧 Listen here - pod.fo/e/65801d 👀 Info + 🎟️ link - www.footballvhomophobia.com/lgbtq-fan-gr... #StrongerTogether #LGBTQfootball

Football v Homophobia: 'Visibility isn’t enough': So what do LGBTQ football fans want? With Rainbow Devils and Proud Forest

For the first time in more than seven years, LGBTQ supporters’ groups from across British football are gathering for a major event.There are now more than 50 groups within the Pride in Football a...

pod.fo

NEW: A summit for football fans who are #LGBTQ or allies is being held in Nottingham on Saturday. Martin Hyland, founder and chair of Proud Forest, tells the FvH Podcast that the event is “a great starting point” for anyone new to the game’s queer community… #LGBTQfootball @proudforest.bsky.social

‘You find people like you’ - LGBTQ football fans recommend ‘Stronger Together’ event

A summit for football fans who are LGBTQ or allies is being held in Nottingham on October 3; Martin Hyland, founder and chair of Proud Forest, says the event is “a great starting point” for anyone new...

sportsmedialgbt.com

Well worth a listen this.

'Visibility isn’t enough': So what do LGBTQ football fans want? With Rainbow Devils and Proud Forest

Football v Homophobia · Episode

open.spotify.com

We were appalled to witness repeated homophobic abuse directed towards our players after today's 2-2 draw at Brocton. We will be reporting the behaviour we witnessed through appropriate channels and we stand in solidarity with those affected. There is no place for homophobia in football.

Great to read Brentford FC’s EDI Report for a summary of the club’s impressive #LGBTQfootball work 👏 “Working alongside the LGBeeTs, West London Queer Project and Middlesex Pride, the Club delivered a series of initiatives throughout the year to champion LGBTQ+ inclusion across football…

Brentford publishes 2025/26 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion report | Brentford FC

Brentford releases the club Equity, Diversity and Inclusion report for the 2025/26 season.

brentfordfc.com

Our co-chair Cass joined host Jon Holmes on the latest Football v Homophobia podcast, alongside Martin from Proud Forest. 🔴⚪️⚫️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ Hear about trans & non-binary fans, the new LGBTQ+ Supporters' Group Toolkit, and why 'visibility isn't enough' ahead of Stronger Together on October 3rd! pod.fo/e/65801d

Football v Homophobia: 'Visibility isn’t enough': So what do LGBTQ football fans want? With Rainbow Devils and Proud Forest

For the first time in more than seven years, LGBTQ supporters’ groups from across British football are gathering for a major event.There are now more than 50 groups within the Pride in Football a...

pod.fo

NEW: The FvH Podcast returns, with an episode focusing on #LGBTQfootball supporters groups ahead of the ‘Stronger Together’ event in Nottingham on October 3. Cass from @rainbowdevils.bsky.social and Martin from @proudforest.bsky.social join Jon for a chat! 🎧⚽️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @prideinfootball.bsky.social

Football v Homophobia: 'Visibility isn’t enough': So what do LGBTQ football fans want? With Rainbow Devils and Proud Forest

For the first time in more than seven years, LGBTQ supporters’ groups from across British football are gathering for a major event.There are now more than 50 groups within the Pride in Football a...

pod.fo

🗣️“People who are our friends, teammates and supporters have been detained or jailed... They are part of the closest circle around our groups.” The anti #LGBTQ crackdown in Turkey is impacting on queer sports clubs. For @outsports.com, I spoke to leaders of two teams who fear for their future.

Turkish LGBTQ sports clubs hit by arrests in anti-gay crackdown - Outsports

LGBTQ sports clubs in Turkey have told Outsports that their teammates are among those arrested in the Erdogan government’s crackdown.

outsports.com

🩷💜💙 With a little extra awareness, we can all help to make our football and sports spaces more welcoming for everyone… 🗓️ September 23 is Bisexual Visibility Day, originally titled as Celebrate Bisexuality Day ⚽️🌈 To mark the day, we’re sharing 3️⃣ ways to be an ally to bi people in sports…

It’s Bi Awareness Week, leading up to Bi Visibility Day on Wednesday 🩷💜💙 Ahead of marking the day, we’re re-sharing our chat with Lewis from @proudskyblues.co.uk Interested in helping us celebrate the bi+ community in football? Reach out! 📧, DM or tag us in 🙌 #LGBTQ #BiWeek #BiVisibilityDay

Proud Sky Blues founder Lewis Wale on Bi Visibility Day

Coventry City’s LGBTQ+ and allies fan group, Proud Sky Blues, is celebrating its second anniversary founder Lewis Wale talks about the journey so far and the importance of Bi Visibility Day on Septemb...

footballvhomophobia.com

NEW: Hull City are getting tough on homophobic chanting, banning 3 fans for 3 years each, and sending out a clear warning ahead of Saturday’s game at Chelsea. A look at the media coverage shows a markedly mixed picture. How newsworthy is a story about discrimination these days? #FvH2026

Fans banned for THREE YEARS for homophobic chanting - but is the message getting through?

Hull City take strong action and warn fans ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea. There’s a mixed response from mainstream media.

sportsmedialgbt.substack.com

Hull City fined £30,000 by The FA for homophobic chanting by a section of supporters in last season’s FA Cup tie v Chelsea, and issued with an action plan. #FvH2026

Club Statement: FA Charge

Club Statement: FA Charge

wearehullcity.co.uk

Spain 🇪🇸 UGT Andalucía has launched its 'Red Card to Homophobia. I Also Paint My Nails' campaign in solidarity with Betis footballer Héctor Bellerín after he faced homophobic attacks. A formal complaint has been filed with prosecutors. buff.ly/RcHSWFL

Hector Bellerin was targeted with gay slurs by a YouTuber and so-called journalist, in a livestream on Friday. The YouTuber posted something close to a non-apology video, before Borja Iglesias called out the homophobia. But Spanish football has been largely silent. For @outsports.com #FvH2026

World Cup champ Borja Iglesias blasts gay slurs against soccer star - Outsports

World Cup winner Borja Iglesias blasted a YouTuber for gay slurs aimed at his friend and former teammate, soccer star Hector Bellerin.

outsports.com

Hoy, Borja Iglesias ha salido a defender a su amigo y compañero Héctor Bellerín, tras los insultos homófobos de Iñaki Angulo, youtuber del Real Madrid:"¡Qué barbaridad y qué vergüenza! Es la primera vez que veo a esta persona. Estoy seguro que no es la primera vez que suelta burradas de este estilo"

Properly rubbish the club still have to put these messages out in 2026 but here we are. This fixture in 2025 was also blighted by homophobic comments by own fans. All Leeds, Aren’t We? Your words matter. #LUFC #MOT #ALAW 🤍💛💙

🥾 Meet Jack Turner - a footballer from the Westcountry who’s planning an epic adventure… 🗣️ “I don’t expect one person walking 339 miles to solve homophobia in sport, but I do believe it only takes one person to start a conversation.” Read to learn more, and pls donate if you can 🙏 #LGBTQ #sports

'I'm a footballer, I'm gay, and I'm going to walk 339 miles to take a stand against homophobia in sport'

Jack Turner plays in grassroots football for Bristol-based AC Moose; having found a team environment in which he feels welcome as a gay man, he wants to raise awareness of the importance of creating s...

sportsmedialgbt.com

🗣️ "So much about Tony's past is heart-breaking, but throughout the process of making this film, his story becomes so much more hopeful” - Ramiel Petros, co-director of documentary ‘The Last Guest of the Holloway Motel’ - showing now at selected UK cinemas - on Tony Powell Via BBC Bristol #LGBTQ

Tony Powell: 'My footballer brother hid his sexuality for years'

Former Norwich City defender Tony Powell did not speak to his family about being gay for 40 years.

bbc.co.uk

🏟️ Everyone should feel safe and welcome when watching football - so if you witness or experience discrimination, be confident and Report It 🩷⚫️ You can DM Kick It Out; use the website or app; call the hotline; or email 📧 👉 footballvhomophobia.com/report-it/ #FvH2026 @kickitoutofficial.bsky.social

Welcome to the Stories Behind the Squad - Part Two: Squadron Pride Fans know that Washington Spirit Pride Nights are the best games of the season. But that wasn’t always the case - former Spirit ownership refused to host a Pride match prior to 2019.

“This is who I am and this is who I was always meant to be.” 🌈 Mandy McGlynn on the fulfillment of finding her true self when she came out.

USWNT star Mandy McGlynn, dating her teammate, says coming out was ‘joyous’ - www.outsports.com/2026/8/20/24...

✅ Our FvT campaign lead Natalie and friends are signed up for #EuroGames2027! 🏳️‍🌈⚽️🏳️‍⚧️ Take a closer look at the Cardiff event via the link… 👀 @pridesportscymru.bsky.social @pridesports.bsky.social

Sports Media LGBT+@sportsmedialgbt.com · 2mo ago

🏳️‍🌈🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏳️‍⚧️ More than 1,000 athletes have already registered for #EuroGames Cardiff 2027, including Natalie Washington and her football teammates… 🗣️ “I’m excited for next summer, and proud to be part of an event that will be truly welcoming for trans+ people” - @transsomething.bsky.social #LGBTQ #sports

Hate has no home field advantage. The Leagues Cup and Concacaf must do better. A joint statement with @losverdesatx.bsky.social and @lamurgadeaustin.bsky.social

Arsenal’s annual summary about discrimination involving supporters in the previous season confirms a banning order / stadium ban for homophobia for at least 1 fan; 13 ongoing police investigations covering alleged offences; and 17,700 online posts and comments verified as abusive. #FvH2026 🩷⚫️

Supporters banned for abusive and discriminatory behaviour

We can confirm that nine supporters received football banning orders and stadium bans during the 2025/26 season for offences including assault, racism, antisemitism, homophobia and other abusive or in...

arsenal.com

⚽️ Lise Klaveness for FIFA President? Her candidacy might still be considered a long shot but even Sepp Blatter is now tweeting #lise4president… Even if she’s only in the running, the ramifications for women and LGBTQ people in football could be huge. For @outsports.com

Gay exec touted as best choice to replace Gianni Infantino at FIFA - Outsports

Lisa Klaveness has been an outspoken critic of under-fire FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whose predecessor says the out lesbian executive should now replace him.

outsports.com