‘Safer Stadiums’ project shares women’s experiences at men’s game

Safer Stadiums is a new project seeking to share the variety of experiences by women who are fans of the men’s game. It is run by Northumbria University, Loughborough University, and the Football Supporters’ Association.

While many fans are at ease in raucous stadiums, having grown up going to games with their parents or friends, for some supporters matchdays can be challenging.

The FSA says that football should be for all and Safer Stadiums explores ways to make that a reality for women who have had negative experiences at the match.

Hannah Kumari leads the FSA’s Women’s Voice in the Men’s Game Network and has been a regular matchgoer at Coventry City since the 1990s. She has followed the club since she was 12-years-old.

The FSA’s Hannah Kumari says: 

“I’ve experienced sexism and misogyny first hand at football, as have many women, across all levels of the pyramid.

“Half of women at the match have experienced sexist language and behaviour while that figure jumps up to eight out of ten among ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ women.

“We will not accept the normalisation of sexism and misogyny as part of football culture and would encourage clubs to take strong actions in challenging unacceptable behaviour.”

Hannah says that reporting tools are a key part of this although resources are often focused on punishing perpetrators, leaving victims with limited support.

The Safer Stadiums project is run by Northumbria University, Loughborough University and the FSA and offers an outlet for women who want to speak out and share their experiences of gender-based violence.

Safer Stadiums recently ran a series of workshops across the country showcasing an innovative mix of movement and storytelling with talks by women fans about their experiences and solutions, attended by a diverse range of participants, in terms of their race, faith, sexuality, age and physical mobility. 

From those events a range of stories unfurled and Safer Stadiums will share those stories by releasing a short animation which will premiere at an in-person event at HOME in Manchester on Saturday 28th March 2026.

The film’s core message to fans is that our behaviour impacts other supporters. It can make your fellow fan feel excluded or even unsafe as many women tell us they have different experiences to men which has an impact on their matchdays.

Project lead, Dr Aarti Ratna of Northumbria University said:

“All of football needs to take ownership to make all fans feel safe and at home in the stadium, and on the way to the match. Creating safe spaces outside the stadium, particularly on the way to public transport, can help women fans to belong and bring their vital support to the match.”

In order to bring together and support women fans of men’s football, the FSA has established a new Women’s Voice in the Men’s Game (WVMG) Network and encourages women supporters who’d like to be involved to get in touch.

The Safe Stadiums screening is open to all fans and takes place at HOME in Manchester on Saturday 28th March 2026. You can register here.

• For further information please contact: [email protected]