Brentford will dedicate this weekend’s fixture against Burnley to the Premier League’s No Room for Racism campaign. 

We believe that football is for everyone. Our inclusivity and diversity make us who we are. There is no room for discrimination, and racism is not tolerated at our club.  

Like other Premier League clubs, our team will take the knee before kick-off to show their commitment to eradicating discrimination. We encourage you to be in your seats early. 

Tackling discrimination 

We want to ensure that visiting Gtech Community Stadium is a pleasurable experience for all.

In January this year, we introduced new reporting QR codes that allow supporters to report concerns or feedback, including instances of discrimination, via a quick form. 

Whether you’re involved in the incident or witness it, we encourage fans to use the reporting mechanism if they see or experience any incidents. Reporting incidents in present time help us deal with them quicker. 

Online abuse is a matter that’s close to us. Unfortunately, some of our players have been subject to discrimination.  

In October 2022, a man sent a racist message to Ivan Toney on social media.

We were pleased to see the incident taken seriously by authorities, such as Northumbria police, when the individual involved was banned from every stadium in the country in a landmark ruling in March this year. 

Unfortunately, incidents such as these continue. Earlier this month, Brentford defender Ethan Pinnock experienced racial abuse. The continued number of cases of discrimination reaffirms the need to take a no tolerance approach to racism in football, and all aspects of society.  

Last November, Brentford head coach Thomas Frank and chief executive Jon Varney, alongside Kick It Out, other clubs and organisations, signed and sent an open letter to Rishi Sunak, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg, asking for action to be taken against online abuse, and to ensure the Online Safety Bill moves faster, to best protect those who work in, play or watch football. 

The bill was passed in September 2023, and we hope to see more people protected from online abuse. 

Tackling discrimination is also about education and celebrating our diversity, something that we’re proud of. 

Brentford FC Community Sports Trust runs anti-discrimination workshops at schools in a commitment to helping end racism in football and in wider society. 

The sessions are run by our club ambassador Marcus Gayle and were recognised at the London Football Awards, picking up the Community Project of the Year award earlier this year.