One in five women in the UK have endured unwanted physical attention during a men’s soccer match.
That’s according to a Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) survey, which looked at the experiences of more than 2,000 female attendees at football matches in the UK between August and September this year.
The survey, conducted by the UK’s representative body for football supporters found that up to half of respondents claimed that seeing sexist behaviour made them angry.
As a result, one in 20 women said they were reluctant to attend future matches after experiencing sexism.
In a previous study, conducted in 2014, more than one third of respondents said they were not really bothered by seeing sexism at a match, compared with fifteen percent at present.
The 2014 study also found that one in four women would have brushed off sexism, but this figure is now down to twelve percent.
The survey, Woman At The Match, revealed that only 4 percent of women were willing to put up with sexism as part of their experience as a spectator.
Most of the spectators surveyed, 97.2 percent of whom identified as women, 0.6% non-binary, and the remainder self-identified as another gender, or preferred not to say, claimed they would like to see clubs reprimand individuals who display sexist behaviours. Forty percent said they would like to see sexist individuals removed from the stadium.
The Football Association (FA) released a statement in response to the survey, saying they stand “firmly against all forms of discrimination and prejudice and believes that our game is to be enjoyed and participated in by all”.
A FA spokesperson added that the association had recently launched A Game For All, a new equality, diversity and inclusion strategy, that outlines their commitment and plans to deliver a game free from discrimination.
“This commitment includes ensuring the increased inclusivity of women, as well as creating safer venues for all, by using innovative tools to deter antisocial behaviour, developing training programmes for employees and stewards, and taking appropriate action against anyone found guilty of abuse within our venues,” they said.
By contrast, at women’s football games, 75 percent of female respondents said they didn’t hear sexist comments or experience unwanted physical attention.
The Premier League has not offered a public response to the survey, but said it is committed to including an introduction of league-wide bans and commencing an enhanced training for stewards.
A spokesperson for English Football League released a statement, saying:
“With 72 clubs located across the country and over 18 million people through the turnstiles each season, the EFL is continually striving to ensure its matches are welcoming and accessible for all.”
“It is disappointing to see so many female supporters being subject to inappropriate and unacceptable conduct from fellow fans, though as with any insight or feedback we receive, we will consider how it can help improve match day operations and inform steward training going forward.”
“Having launched our Together Against Discrimination match day campaign at the start of the season, our message is clear: sexism and discriminatory behaviour is not acceptable – those who do not agree are not welcome.”
One FSA board member, Ally Simcock, said it was heartening to see the change in attitudes over recent years, with fans less likely to be accepting of sexist behaviour, or willing to brush it off or excuse it as banter.
“I’ve been going to men’s football for a long time now and have heard my share of sexist comments, but a lot has changed recently,” the Port Vale FC fan said.
“Things like the #MeToo movement have helped change people’s perceptions about what they’re willing to put up with, and what is or isn’t acceptable.”
“The FSA is absolutely clear on this – there is no place whatsoever at football for sexist or misogynistic behaviour. We’d encourage all supporters to challenge it, and if necessary, report it to their club or the authorities.”
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters spoke after the launch of its enhanced anti-discrimination measures at the beginning of the season, declaring that The Premier League and its clubs condemn all forms of discriminatory and abusive behaviour.
“The commitment from all clubs to enforce League-wide bans demonstrates there is no place for discrimination of any kind in football and we will continue to work together to fight all forms of prejudice,” he said.
In Australia, women make up 22 percent of the Australia’s players’ participation base with football players born in over 150 different countries. Globally, the latest figures show that the sport has a fan base made up of 42 percent female.