Today we are dedicating our match against Everton to the work of Kick It Out, which sits alongside the Club’s commitment to place equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of everything it does.
For 26 years, Kick It Out has been at the forefront of the drive towards equality, inclusion and cohesion for everyone who plays, watches or works in football.
This season the charity has launched its #KickItOutGeneration campaign. Everyone who wants football to be more inclusive is part of the #KickItOutGeneration. If you love the game but don’t like the discrimination that sometimes goes with it, then get involved.
West Ham United is committed to encouraging and valuing diversity and eliminating discrimination and we expect commitment and involvement from all our players, staff, partners, suppliers, and match-day fans.
So, what’s behind the t-shirts?
Having started life as ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of Football’ in 1993, Kick It Out has evolved into an organisation which fights ALL forms of discrimination in the game. To do this, they work alongside their partners The FA, the Premier League, the English Football League, the Professional Footballers’ Association, the League Managers Association and the Football Supporters’ Federation.
Since its inception, Kick It Out has provided a clear, independent voice within the game to challenge discrimination and exclusion, as well as education for professional players, clubs, fans, grassroots organisations and beyond. The organisation also provides mentoring and guidance to help underrepresented groups participate in football and secure opportunities to develop a career in the game.
Kick It Out has established an equality framework for professional clubs, supporting the development of equality practices and policies, and enabled more effective reporting and investigating of complaints of discriminatory abuse.
The Club has been put forward for the Premier League’s Advanced Equality Standard, after having already been awarded the Intermediate Equality Standard, in recognition of a range of its policies, initiatives and campaigns.
West Ham is proud to work alongside Kick It Out and we look forward to continuing alongside them to make football a better sport.
Let’s kick racism and discrimination out of football – together.
West Ham United Football Club has a zero-tolerance policy towards foul language, racist chanting, homophobic chanting or any anti-social behaviour. To report an accident or a concern on matchday please notify the nearest steward, Supporter Liaison Officer or report it directly to our control room by using our anti-social texting number. To report an incident via SMS please send it to 07860404069.
You can also report to Kick It Out via their app, via email on [email protected], via their online reporting form on their website kickitout.org, or via freephone on 0800 169 9414.