Sanjay Bhandari to Step Down as Kick It Out Chair in 2027
Kick It Out will enter a new era in 2027, with chair Sanjay Bhandari set to step down at the end of the 2026-27 season after more than seven years at the helm.
Appointed in 2019, Bhandari has become one of the most prominent voices in English football’s fight against discrimination. His work was recognised in 2024 when he received an MBE for services to football during his time with the charity, which has been challenging racism and discrimination since its formation in 1993.
Calling it a “tremendous honour” to lead Kick It Out, Bhandari underlined the organisation’s long-term vision in his statement. He highlighted the “Football United” strategy, built around bringing governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, communities and partners together to drive lasting change across the game.
“In a world that often feels increasingly negative and divided, we are consciously seeking to strike a different tone,” he said, stressing that the next chair will be central to carrying that message forward.
He described the incoming leader’s role as pivotal in guiding an experienced and committed board and working closely with the chief executive to represent “one of the most respected voices for equality and inclusion in sport”.
Bhandari’s tenure has been defined by change behind the scenes. He has overseen a transformation of Kick It Out’s structure and stability, including stronger financial independence, revamped governance, the appointment of an entirely new board and leadership team, and a reshaped staff structure designed to sharpen its impact.
The charity will now launch a recruitment process, aiming to identify a preferred candidate by the end of December. The plan is for the new chair to overlap with Bhandari, working alongside him through to the end of the 2026-27 campaign before officially taking over on 1 July 2027.
By then, the handover will not just be about a title changing hands. It will be a test of how firmly Kick It Out’s renewed vision has taken root in a sport still wrestling with the very issues it was founded to confront.
