Sanjay Bhandari, the chair of football's leading equality and inclusion charity Kick It Out, has announced he will step down from his position at the end of the 2026-27 season — bringing to a close a tenure that has quietly but meaningfully reshaped one of the most important organisations in the English game.

Bhandari was appointed chair back in 2019 and has overseen a period of genuine transformation at the charity, which has been fighting discrimination in football since its establishment in 1993. Over those seven-plus years, he steered Kick It Out towards stronger financial independence, brought in an entirely new board and senior leadership team, and restructured the organisation from the ground up. In 2024, that work was recognised with an MBE for services to football.

In a statement issued alongside the announcement, Bhandari was clear-eyed about what the charity is trying to achieve and why the handover matters.

"Our 'Football United' strategy is deliberately built on a vision of bringing together governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, communities and partners to create lasting change," he said. "In a world that often feels increasingly negative and divided, we are consciously seeking to strike a different tone."

It is a tone that has defined his time in the role. Whether the conversation has been about racist abuse directed at players online, discriminatory chanting in grounds, or the structural barriers facing people from underrepresented backgrounds within the game's administration, Kick It Out under Bhandari has consistently positioned itself as a constructive, evidence-led voice rather than a purely reactive one.

The charity will now begin searching for a successor, with the aim of identifying a preferred candidate before the end of December this year. Whoever takes the position will work alongside Bhandari through the remainder of the 2026-27 campaign before formally assuming the chair on 1 July 2027 — a sensible transition period that should allow continuity across the board and with chief executive staff.

Bhandari described it as a "tremendous honour" to have led the organisation, and acknowledged the significance of who comes next. "The new chair will play a pivotal role in helping Kick It Out deliver that vision, by leading an experienced and committed board, and working closely with our chief executive to represent an organisation that has become one of the most respected voices for equality and inclusion in sport," he said.

That reputation has not come from nowhere. It has been built game by game, season by season, through hard conversations with clubs, governing bodies and supporters alike. The challenge for whoever steps into Bhandari's shoes will be to maintain that credibility while continuing to push the game forward — at every level, from the Premier League down to the grassroots pitches where so many of these battles are still being fought.

The recruitment process is now under way. It will be worth watching closely.

Frequently asked

Why is Sanjay Bhandari leaving Kick It Out?
Bhandari has announced he will step down at the end of the 2026-27 season after more than seven years as chair. He has not cited a specific reason beyond completing a substantial period in the role and helping to set up the organisation for its next chapter under new leadership.
What does Kick It Out actually do?
Kick It Out is English football's equality and inclusion organisation, founded in 1993. It campaigns against discrimination — including racism, homophobia, disability discrimination and other forms of abuse — across all levels of the game, and works with clubs, governing bodies, players and supporters to drive lasting change.
When will Kick It Out appoint a new chair?
The charity aims to identify a preferred candidate by the end of December 2025. The new chair is expected to work alongside Bhandari during the rest of the 2026-27 season before formally taking over on 1 July 2027.