Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fans reported for alleged race hate crimes

Blades supporters were reported five times across the two seasons – three in 2017/18 and two during the last campaign.

Owls fans were reported twice during 2018/19 and once the previous season, data obtained by the PA news agency under the Freedom of Information Act shows.

Discrimination based on someone's race was the reason given for all eight reports.

Hate crimes were reported at 193 matches across England and Wales during the 2018/19 season, according to the latest Home Office statistics from September, which represented a sharp rise from 131 the year before.

Alleged race hate crimes accounted for 79 per cent of matches in which a report was made, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) called the apparent rise in such ‘abhorrent' behaviour a ‘real concern’.

Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the NPCC’s football policing lead, said: "Racism at football is a re-emerging problem, although I don't think it's ever truly gone away.

“It was controlled for a while and became socially unacceptable, but it is a real concern we have seen it creep back with such regularity into the national game.

“With reduced levels of policing on the ground, those committing this abhorrent behaviour do not have the immediate sanction of a police officer arresting them.”

Burnley fans were responsible for the most reports, at 17, while 19 clubs had no incidents flagged during the two seasons.

The data does not specify whether the reports were made by opposition supporters or fans of the club reported.

The Home Office said some of the increase in hate crime reports was likely to be due to improvements in recording.

Kick It Out, which campaigns for equality and inclusion in the game, said the rise in discrimination in football is a challenge for all clubs at all levels across the country, adding ‘to this extent, football mirrors society’.

It said methods for reporting abusive behaviour at football matches were improving, which could explain a rise in the figures.

“We encourage clubs to continue building on the good work they have already done in creating effective reporting mechanisms,” it added.

Several high-profile cases of reported hate crime at football matches have brought the problem to prominence in recent years.

A Chelsea fan was reported for alleged racial abuse directed at Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling during a Premier League match in December last year.

Although the supporter was banned from matches for life in June, the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to bring a criminal charge.

Wycombe goalkeeper Ryan Allsop reported homophobic abuse being directed at him and a referee during his side's League One match against Tranmere in November this year.