According to a recent report by Fifa, nearly 20,000 abusive social media posts were directed at players, coaches, and officials during the previous year’s World Cup.
Out of the 20 million posts analyzed using moderation software developed by Fifa and players’ union Fifpro, approximately 286,895 posts were concealed from public view.
The highest surge in abusive messages occurred following England’s quarter-final defeat to France, primarily due to Harry Kane’s missed penalty in the dying minutes.
“While the figures and findings of this report are not unexpected, they remain deeply troubling,” expressed David Aganzo, president of Fifpro. “They serve as a stark reminder for all those involved in our sport and must prompt the implementation of preventive measures and solutions for players who increasingly encounter such forms of abuse.”
The report, published on Sunday, discloses that over 300 individuals have been identified, and their information will be shared with the appropriate authorities to enable real-world action.
Of the identifiable instances of abuse, 38% originated from European-based accounts, while 36% came from South America.
Vinicius Jr has been appointed to lead Fifa’s anti-racism committee, consisting of players, in an effort to combat this issue.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about online abuse
Q: How many abusive social media posts were aimed at players, coaches, and officials during the World Cup 2022?
A: According to the Fifa report, there were almost 20,000 abusive social media posts directed at players, coaches, and officials during the World Cup 2022.
Q: What percentage of abusive messages detected were categorized as sexism, homophobia, and racism?
A: The report reveals that of the detected abusive messages, 13.47% were related to sexism, 12.16% to homophobia, and 10.70% to racism.
Q: Which social media platform received the highest number of reported abusive messages?
A: Twitter received the highest number of reported abusive messages with 13,105, followed by Instagram (5,370), Facebook (979), YouTube (113), and TikTok (69).
Q: Which countries experienced the highest number of abusive messages?
A: The report indicates that France received the highest number of abusive messages when categorized by country, followed by Brazil and England.
Q: What actions were taken against the abusive messages reported?
A: The abusive messages reported to the relevant social media platforms were addressed, and in many cases, the posts were removed.
Q: What measures are being taken to protect players and combat online abuse?
A: Fifa partnered with Fifpro to implement a social media protection service (SMPS) during international tournaments, flagged abusive posts, and established tools to protect players, coaches, and officials. Additionally, a confidential web-based whistleblowing system has been put in place to report abuse.
Q: How are social media companies responding to abusive content on their platforms?
A: The report suggests that social media companies’ responses to abuse evolved during the tournament but still indicated some blind spots, particularly outside of English language content. It emphasizes the need for improved actions by these platforms.
Q: What is the role of Fifa and other authorities in combating online abuse?
A: Fifa emphasizes its duty to protect football and expects all authorities and social media platforms to accept their responsibilities and support the fight against all forms of discrimination. Cooperation with relevant authorities is facilitated to take real-world action against those responsible for abusive posts.
More about online abuse
- Fifa
- Fifpro
- World Cup 2022
- Social Media Protection Service (SMPS)
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Confidential web-based whistleblowing system (Please note: The specific link for the whistleblowing system was not provided in the given information.)
