Kick It Out launches free app to report abuse at grounds

Kick It Out has today launched a free mobile application for iPhone and Android. The app includes a ‘Report It!’ function to provide a quick, straight-forward and discreet way of reporting incidents of discrimination.

Backed by the Premier League and Football League, the Football Association, and the Professional Footballers’ Association, the app provides news updates on the campaign’s latest projects, but its most prominent feature is ‘Report It!’ which empowers people at all levels of the game to report incidents of discrimination.

The concept of the app came in response to findings from Kick It Out’s ‘Tackling Discrimination’ fans’ consultation, the largest ever survey of football supporters on their views of abuse and discrimination in the modern game. More than 5,000 fans took part and the key findings were:

• 53% don’t know how to report abusive or discriminatory behaviour;
• 88% feel supporters are responsible for self-regulating behaviour at grounds;
• 63% think they’d be singling themselves out as a target if they filed a complaint;
• 44% feel it’s too much hassle to report an incident.

Whether you are a fan or coach, player or administrator, referee or physio, groundsman or steward, if you see, hear or are the victim of abuse, the app’s reporting facility allows you to file complaints confidentially and anonymously.

“The majority of football fans have told us loud and clear they want zero tolerance of discrimination at all levels of the game,” said Kick It Out chair Lord Herman Ouseley.

“Over the past 20 years Kick It Out has stayed at the forefront of tackling discrimination with innovative campaigns and new technologies.

“This new tool will help clubs and the authorities target instances of discriminatory behaviour more consistently while maintaining healthy and vocal rivalries at games.”

The app will act as an alternative method of reporting, supplementing the current platforms clubs have in place, such as text reporting lines, anti-racism hotline numbers and email reporting services.

Further information regarding the Kick It Out app’s ‘Report It!’ function:

• The app works both online and offline depending on the availability of a mobile phone signal;
• If submitting an incident report from a Premier League or Football League ground, the user is able to select the exact stadium they are located at from a drop-down menu facility;
• If submitting an incident report during a match at non-league or grassroots level, there is a ‘Non League/Grassroots’ button which can be selected from the ‘Where did it happen?’ field – once submitted, this will be sent to the appropriate body to investigate;
• Wherever an incident is reported, once Kick It Out receives the complaint, it will be raised with the clubs involved and governing body, and monitored from that point onwards.

Kick It Out values the thoughts of all its supporters and is eager to hear what types of improvements could be made to provide a better user experience.

Therefore, the app contains a feedback button which allows you to send your recommendations for enhancing the product directly to the campaign. As and when adaptations are made, updated versions of the app will be released.

Find out more about Kick It Out and its work and if you encounter an incident of discrimination, ‘Report It!’.

• You can download the app via the Apple Store and Google Play.

The Kick It Out app was developed by Make Positive, designed by Sherry Design Studios and funded by the Salesforce.com Foundation.