Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari will step down from his position at the end of the 2026/27 season.
Bhandari, who was named chair in 2019, will leave the position after more than seven years.
During his time in office he has overseen a transformation of the organization including enhanced financial independence and governance, the appointment of an entirely new board and leadership team and a new team structure.
Last year Kick It Out launched its new five-year strategy Football United and Samuel Okafor was appointed chief executive in 2024.
“It has been a tremendous honor to chair Kick It Out,” said Bhandari. “Our ‘Football United’ strategy is deliberately built on a vision of bringing together governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, communities and partners to create lasting change. “In a world that often feels increasingly negative and divided, we are consciously seeking to strike a different tone. “The new Chair will be central in helping Kick It Out deliver that vision, by leading an experienced and committed Board and working closely with our chief executive to represent an organization that has become one of the most respected voices for equality and inclusion in sport.
“This is a unique opportunity for someone who believes in the power of football to bring people together and who wants to help shape the future of the nation’s game.”
During his time with the charity, which was founded in 1993, Bhandari was made an MBE in 2024 for his services to football.
Kick It Out will now begin a formal process to recruit a preferred candidate by the end of December 2026.
The new chair is expected to work alongside Bhandari for the remainder of the 2026/27 season as part of an orderly transition before formally taking up the position on July 1, 2027.
The successful candidate will be inheriting a role at a time when there are significant challenges still to be overcome around making football more inclusive and representative, both on and off the pitch, whilst tackling discrimination.
Kick It Out has become an influential voice in campaigning for policy change, working with the Government, regulators and football’s governing bodies including the Premier League, EFL, FA and PFA.
The charity also delivers education programs with supporters, club academies and online, while its Raise Your Game program offers development opportunities.
Kick It Out’s discrimination reporting service continues to be a key part of its work, with reports of abuse continuing to rise.
It has also widened its reach thru a partnership with Guinness 0.0, which has seen 4,000 staff trained to spot and tackle discrimination in 900 Greene King sports bars across England, Scotland and Wales.
Kick It Out is also working with partners including Sky, McDonald’s Fun Football, Visit Tampa Bay and Morrisons Foundation as part of its strategy thru to 2030 to build on further growth in its education and inclusion programs.
