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 campaign after more than seven years at the helm.

Bhandari, who took over as chair in 2019, confirmed he will leave his role once a successor has been fully phased in. His departure will mark the end of a tenure that has reshaped the anti-discrimination charity on and off the pitch.

Honoured for his work in the game, Bhandari received an MBE in 2024 for services to football during his time with Kick It Out, which has been a leading voice against discrimination since its formation in 1993.

Reflecting on his time in charge, Bhandari described it as a “tremendous honour” to chair the organisation. He highlighted the charity’s “Football United” strategy, built around a vision of bringing together governing bodies, clubs, players, supporters, communities and partners to create lasting change.

In his statement, he underlined the importance of tone and unity, stressing that in a world that can feel “increasingly negative and divided”, Kick It Out is “consciously seeking to strike a different tone”.

The next chair will inherit a very different organisation to the one Bhandari joined. During his spell, he oversaw a significant transformation: stronger financial independence, tighter governance, the appointment of an entirely new board and leadership team, and a refreshed internal structure designed to sharpen the charity’s impact.

Bhandari made clear that the new chair will be central to driving the next phase of that vision, leading an experienced and committed board and working closely with the chief executive to represent what he called one of the most respected voices for equality and inclusion in sport.

Kick It Out will now launch a recruitment process, aiming to identify a preferred candidate by the end of December. The plan is for the incoming chair to work alongside Bhandari through to the end of the 2026-27 season, ensuring a smooth handover before formally taking charge on 1 July 2027.

By then, the question will not be what Bhandari built, but how his successor chooses to push it on.