Kick It Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari has been made an MBE for services to sport in the New Year Honours list 2024.
Mr Bhandari, who lives in Potters Bar, has headed up the charity since 2019, which has been working to tackle discrimination in football since it was founded in 1993.
"I am humbled and honoured to receive an award like this," he said.
"It is a recognition of the team that I have a privilege to lead. This is just as much a recognition of that fantastic team, as it is of my small contribution to it."
"For the first 20 years of watching football, I heard racist chants every single match. Now, I can’t remember the last time I heard those particular chants. We think that there is less racism and discrimination inside grounds than 30 years ago.
"We feel Kick It Out has made a positive impact on that. We feel more confident that people want to report incidents, and are less tolerant of discrimination."
In a statement, Kick It Out said it was delighted to see Mr Bhandari made an MBE, continuing: "Sanjay’s leadership has provided Kick It Out with a new structure, new investment, including its partnership with Sky, and a new strategy as it continues to deliver on being a solutions-focused organisation.
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"Nowhere has this been more apparent than when Sanjay led football governing bodies to help construct legislation for the new Online Safety Act, which was passed earlier this year.
"His recommendations were adopted by football and should make football a safer and more welcoming place.
"Similarly, Sanjay has been a driving force in lobbying football and government for greater representation in many areas of the game, and will continue to press the case via the Independent Football Regulator.
"For many years, people have questioned how systemic change can happen with regards to discrimination and inclusion in football.
"But Sanjay has proven how this can be done by bringing people together. Long may that continue."
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