Kick It Out is fighting for its survival with the Premier League set to announce plans for a new campaign.
The anti-discrimination group, set up by Lord Herman Ouseley to fight racism in football, celebrated its 25th anniversary only last month at a dinner held at Stamford Bridge.
In a bombshell move, however, the Premier League is rolling out their own, overarching campaign - ‘No Room For Racism’ - to tackle discrimination.
It has left top-flight clubs in a state of confusion with money unsure which to back.
It has also left supporters fearing for the future of Kick It Out. Their demise would leave football with no independent body to hold the game to account over its poor record on dealing with incidents of race and racist abuse.
The first change in approach is set to take shape next weekend when ‘No Room For Racism’ makes its debut - in the period normally set aside for the Kick It Out weeks of action.
Clubs have already been made aware of the Premier League controversial new proposals. Letters have been sent to all 20 outlining the proposals.
The Kick It Out logo will be on every captain’s armband but top flight clubs have been encouraged by the Premier League to mark the weekends in the way that they see fit.
Clubs in turn are unsure as to whether they should use the Kick It Out branding as usual, the Premier League material or do their own thing.
One club source told Mirror Sport: “It’s a bit strange. The message seems to be that we should be pushing our own stuff.”'
