More than just a result – Sexism in football: a problem that won’t go away

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English anti-discrimination campaign group Kick It Out told BBC Sport that, by the end of February 2026, it had received more than double the amount of reports of sexual discrimination at football matches compared to the same stage last season. Why does this happen? How can it be stopped? What kind of impact can receiving sexual abuse in football have on a person? BBC’s Sophia Hartley is joined by Dr Misia Jervis, a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society, and Zoe Hitchen, a former English football club photographer who now co-leads GIRLFANS, a photography-based project documenting women and underrepresented football fans. Zoe discusses some of the sexist behavior she experienced while working in football, including being harassed by the club’s mascot, while Misia explains why some people feel emboldened to act in a sexist way at football matches and how people can deal with behavior like this. Every Monday to Friday, More Than the Score tells stories beyond the score from around the world of sports. From Formula 1 to netball, from mixed martial arts to snowboarding, from Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We’ve interviewed extraordinary athletes such as figure skating star Mina Fitzpatrick, Winter Olympic champion Ilana Mayers Taylor, South African football icon Penny McCarthy and cricket star Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts who work behind the scenes, from elite football agents to the coaches who keep athletes in peak fitness. In addition, we have the experience of the BBC’s senior journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sports at all levels. And if you have your own opinion on the stories we cover, we’d love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk, or WhatsApp us on 0470 032 800 0044. You can find more information, as well as our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore

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