Why sport must play its part in tackling antisemitism

On Tuesday, I took part in a cross-sector forum on tackling antisemitism, convened by the Prime Minister at a time of increased violence, harassment and intimidation towards many Jewish people in the UK. 

Sport England was invited to the event at 10 Downing Street because the government wanted to understand what we are already doing to tackle antisemitism in our sector and where more urgent, concrete action is needed.  

The Prime Minister called it a “crisis” and urged us as sector leaders to “eradicate antisemitism from every corner of society”.

Leaders of Jewish organisations then gave examples of the treatment that individual Jewish people have recently faced.

In discussions that followed, chaired by our Secretary of State Lisa Nandy, I was clear that while Sport England stands with the Jewish community against any form of discrimination or abuse, sport can and must do more.

Sport's role in tackling racism

At Sport England we will continue to use our position to demand greater equity, equality, diversity and inclusion at all levels. 

Antisemitism is racism, and there is no place for hatred, harassment or discrimination against Jewish people, or any other group, in sport or society. We will always call it out, challenge it, and stand against it. 

Yet antisemitic incidents remain alarmingly high, the latest taking place only this week. Grassroots sport events and matches were among the examples given, where both children and adults have been subject to abuse because they are Jewish.

Almost half of all faith-based discrimination reported to Kick It Out in the last football season was antisemitic. That should concern all of us. 

What we’re doing 

At Sport England, tackling racism and inequality is fundamental to our role as a public body and as a leader within the sporting system. 

Over the last five years, we’re worked extensively with the other home nation sports councils to embed the long-term, system-wide changes recommended by the Race in Sport Review. 

But the discussions at Downing Street were a timely reminder that we must be explicit as well as consistent.  

While antisemitism is covered within our broader anti‑racism work, we recognise the need for deeper understanding, better evidence and clearer action. 

That’s why we’ve committed funding to research antisemitism and Islamophobia in sport, with a strong focus on lived experience.  

Too much of what we currently know is anecdotal. Listening directly to people affected is essential if we are to design the right interventions and support meaningful change. 

We’ve chosen to consider antisemitism and Islamophobia together because hatred doesn’t exist in silos. Jewish and Muslim communities both face rising abuse rooted in religious and racial discrimination.  

If we are serious about tackling racism, we must take a consistent, credible approach to tackling hatred in all its forms. 
 

As a funder of sport and physical activity in England, we’ll also continue to use our governance role to drive change.  

Through the Code for Sports Governance we developed with UK Sport, funded organisations are required to have robust diversity and inclusion action plans, backed by data, accountability and regular review.  

And we’ve committed additional resources to help partners turn their commitments into action. 

Alongside system reform, we continue to fund projects that support Jewish communities to be active in ways that are safe, inclusive and culturally appropriate, from community fitness spaces to swimming and wellbeing programmes. 

Backing words with action 

But funding alone isn’t enough. As I said at the forum, we won’t be silent on this subject and we will act. 

We’ll continue to speak out publicly and consistently when racism occurs.  

We will convene partners to shape and complete our research on antisemitism and Islamophobia in sport, and share the findings openly across the system, and we will work with colleagues in the arts and culture sectors with whom I spoke on Tuesday.  

Our sector can and should be part of the solution, but only if we’re willing to listen, learn and act with urgency. 

Hatred thrives in silence. Inclusion requires leadership. And stamping out all forms of racism, including antisemitism, is vital if sport is truly to be for everyone. 

Sport has the power to bring people together across communities, backgrounds and beliefs.

At No10 I used the example of the boys’ football team I coach as a place where lads and their families from all backgrounds come together to build relationships. And we know that sports teams, clubs and community groups all over England can do the same.