Football, long dominated by men both on and off the pitch, continues to grapple with deep-rooted sexism that affects women at every level of the sport. Despite the rapid growth of the women’s game—with record attendances, soaring viewership, and increased professional opportunities—recent data from 2024 and 2025 reveals that sexist discrimination, abuse, and structural inequalities remain stubbornly persistent, and in some areas, are even worsening.
Workplace Discrimination: A “Bleak” Reality
A major survey by Women in Football (WIF), released in September 2025, painted a stark picture for women working in the industry. Of the 759 women surveyed, 78% reported experiencing gender-based discrimination in the past year. More than half faced sexism or misogyny directly, while 63.5% encountered sexist banter or jokes in professional settings. Alarmingly, over 56% said no action was taken when they reported these incidents.
WIF chief executive Yvonne Harrison described the headline figures as “bleak,” noting that the data has remained relatively static compared to previous years. Many respondents highlighted male dominance in the sector, unconscious bias, and the pressure on women to work harder for the same recognition. Similar patterns persist globally, with limited resources and opportunities for women in coaching, administration, and media roles.
Rising Abuse in Stadiums and Among Fans
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out recorded a record 1,398 reports of discriminatory behaviour during the 2024-25 English football season—an increase from 1,332 the previous year. Sexism and misogyny were key drivers of this rise, with reports jumping 67% from 115 to 192. Online sexist content surged by 72%, and there were 18 reports of sexist chanting in stadiums—nearly matching the total from the previous four seasons combined.
Separate studies show that 52% of female fans have experienced sexist behaviour or language on matchdays, including questioning their football knowledge, wolf-whistling, or outright harassment. Many report that such incidents are often dismissed as “banter.” Younger women, those from ethnic minorities, and LGBTQ+ fans face higher rates. Reports of abuse directed at female referees, physios, pundits, and players have also increased, contributing to a hostile environment that deters some women from attending men’s matches.
Online Hostility and Player Experiences
Women in football face amplified abuse in digital spaces. During the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, one in five players received homophobic, sexist, or sexual abuse on social media, with women 29% more likely to be targeted than men during the previous men’s tournament. Homophobic, sexual, and sexist comments made up nearly half of the verified abusive messages. Players have spoken publicly about the toll, with some withdrawing from social media or feeling unsafe.
High-profile cases, such as the abuse directed at pundits and former players, underscore how quickly online rhetoric can spill into real-world intimidation. This environment not only affects mental health but also discourages women from engaging publicly with the sport they love.
Structural Inequalities: Pay, Media, and Investment
Beyond overt discrimination, systemic gaps remain. Pay disparities are vast: elite male players command wages far exceeding those of their female counterparts, even as top women’s tournaments draw comparable or greater audiences in some cases. Many professional women still earn little or no salary, while investment in women’s teams and infrastructure often lags behind men’s sides.
Media coverage and sponsorship for the women’s game, though improving, remain disproportionate to interest and participation levels. Coaching and refereeing positions continue to be overwhelmingly male-dominated. FIFA and national federations have introduced some reforms, such as minimum standards for women’s competitions, but progress has been slow and uneven.
Why the Problem Persists
Football’s tribal, high-emotion culture—combined with historical male dominance and the anonymity of social media—creates fertile ground for sexism to thrive. “Lad culture” and banter frequently normalize misogynistic language, while underreporting (with many incidents going unaddressed) conceals the full scale.
Reported cases of sexism have risen in recent seasons, likely due to a combination of genuine increases in behaviour and improved awareness and reporting mechanisms. Initiatives like Kick It Out’s campaigns, equality strategies from governing bodies, and grassroots efforts by groups supporting women in football offer some hope. Surveys also show optimism among many women about future opportunities.
Yet the data is clear: sexism in football is not fading away. Addressing it requires more than awareness—it demands consistent enforcement of sanctions, robust reporting systems with real follow-through, equal investment to normalize women’s full participation, and a cultural shift that rejects entitlement or resentment toward women entering traditionally male spaces.
As the women’s game continues to expand, the sport faces a choice: confront these issues head-on with accountability and action, or risk undermining the progress that has been made. Treating sexism with the same seriousness as other forms of discrimination is essential for football to truly become a game for everyone.
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