New Year Honours 2024: Kick It Out chairman made MBE

Image source, Sanjay Bhandari

Image caption,

Mr Bhandari took over as chair of Kick It Out (KIO) in 2019

By Connor Bennett

BBC News, Hertfordshire

The chairman of an anti-discrimination charity who has been recognised in the New Year Honours says he is proud of progress to tackle racism in football but more work is still needed.

Sanjay Bhandari, chair of Kick It Out (KIO) and has been appointed MBE for services to sport.

The charity, which started in 1993, has been headed up by Mr Bhandari, of Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, since 2019.

He said more supporters were “calling out racism”, which he saw as progress.

“I am humbled and honoured to receive an award like this,” he said.

“It is a recognition of the team that I have a privilege to lead. This is just as much a recognition of that fantastic team, as it is of my small contribution to it.”

Mr Bhandhari, 55, said he had seen a drop in racism at matches.

“For the first 20 years of watching football, I heard racist chants every single match,” he said.

“Now, I can’t remember the last time I heard those particular chants.

“We think that there is less racism and discrimination inside grounds than 30 years ago. We feel KIO has made a positive impact on that. We feel more confident that people want to report incidents, and are less tolerant of discrimination.”

Image source, Kick it Out

Image caption,

As a volunteer chair, Mr Bhandari is expected to commit no more than 24 days a year to the work of KIO, yet over the last three years he has contributed over 100 days per year

Mr Bhandari has has given evidence at DCMS select committees looking into the challenges of managing online hate.

He has also led football’s collective efforts to bring forward recommendations for the Online Safety Bill.

“There are incidents of racism from crowds to players, like we have seen this week, but thankfully they are isolated incidents; one or two people, not whole crowds,” he said.

“It’s still not good enough. People are now calling it out, which didn’t happen 30 years ago and there is consequences for those actions. That in of itself is progress.”

‘Want to change game’s culture’

Despite progress in tackling racism, Mr Bhandari said the group had seen a rise in other forms of discrimination in football.

“We want to change the culture of the game, so it’s more welcoming to under-represented communities, focussing on homophobic and misogynistic chanting, the rise of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism,” he said.

KIO recently secured a major sponsorship agreement with Sky Sports, guaranteeing it £3m over three years.

“I wanted to bring more partnership with commercial organisations that share our values and ambitions,” said Mr Bhandari.

“We want to make football a game where everyone feels they belong. That’s our mission.”

Mr Bhandari said he planned to take his mother – who turns 96 in several weeks – with him to the palace to receive his honour.

Other people from Hertfordshire to receive honours include:

Richard Wyse, 77 of Rickmansworth, director of clinical development, Cure Parkinson’s – MBE for services in medicine in Parkinson’s diseaseSheila Abrahams, 74, of Borehamwood, founder of the Freelance Hairdressers Association – MBE for services to the hairdressing industryProf Claire Goodman, 65, of Hertford, Professor of Health Care Research, University of Hertfordshire – MBE for services to older peopleReginald Cording, 92, of Barley long-standing churchwarden, clerk to Barley Parish Council for more than 40 years – BEM for services to the community in Barley Sabit Jakupovi, 56, of Hertford, member of Genocide Survivors’ Consultative group, Holocaust Memorial Day Trust – MBE for services to genocide education and commemorationWilliam Saunders, 55, of Harpenden, chief creative officer, StoryFutures, Royal Holloway University – MBE for services to the creative industriesTimothy Foster Pick, 50, of Radlett, offshore wind champion and chair, Offshore Wind Acceleration Taskforce – MBE for services to offshore wind energy Justin Cohen, 43, of Borehamwood, news editor, Jewish News – MBE for services to Holocaust remembrance and to the Jewish community. Luke Rigg, 29, of Hertford, lead diversity and community relations magistrate for England and Wales – MBE for services to diversity in judiciaryAndrew Gell, 71, of Riseley, chairman of Riseley Parish Council – BEM for services to to the community in RiseleyZoe Sookun, 41, of Westoning, project manager, Network Rail – BEM for services to the railway and to Rail Aid for UkraineMostaque Koyes, 41, director of Community Interest Luton – MBE for services to the community in Luton

Those honoured in Bedfordshire include:

Pamela Ward, 86, of Dunstable, regular churchgoer and event organiser – MBE for services to the community in WhipsnadeAndrew Gell, 71, of Riseley, chair of Riseley Parish Council chair – BEM for services to to the community in RiseleyZoe Sookun, 41, of Westoning, project manager, Network Rail – BEM for services to the railway and to Rail Aid for UkraineMostaque Koyes, 41, of Luton, director of Community Interest Luton – MBE for services to the community in Luton

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