The Metropolitan Police have rejected a freedom of information request relating to how many incidents of racist abuse in the capital’s football stadiums were reported to the force during the 2018/19 season.
While a dozen other police forces across England have confirmed a significant rise in reports of racial abuse, the Met said that they would not calculate the number of reported incidents under their jurisdiction for cost reasons.
More than 300 games were policed by the force last season and they said that it would exceed either the 18-hour or £4,500 cap to compile the exact figures.
Information supplied to football.london by other forces across the country, however, indicates that the number of reports across the country has almost doubled in the past four seasons.
There have already been several racist incidents involving London’s Premier League clubs in 2019/20.
On New Year’s Day a Brighton supporter was arrested for racially abusing Chelsea players, Spurs and the Met are continuing to investigate after Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger reported hearing monkey noises from the stands during the London derby before Christmas while a Blues fan was arrested after abusing Son Heung-min in the same game.
Last month a young West Ham United supporter was sent on an education programme having been arrested for racially abusing Crystal Palace players in their recent meeting at the London Stadium.
Racism has marred games lower down the pyramid, too, with October’s FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie between Haringey Borough and Yeovil Town abandoned after the North London club’s players walked off because of abuse from travelling supporters.
The game ended up being replayed, with Yeovil advancing to the next round. Four men were arrested after the game and a police investigation continues.
