Online hate speech in sports: an increasingly urgent challenge (Social Football Summit)

With the growth of social media, hate speech online has increased, particularly in football, where players encounter racism, misogyny, and other forms of abuse. The seriousness is brought to attention by high-profile occurrences, such as those that targeted England players following Euro 2020. Football women also face ongoing sexism on the internet. According to UEFA, 74% of hate speech is directed at athletes, with lower percentages targeting coaches, teams, and referees. FIFA and UEFA have responded by launching programs like the Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which employs artificial intelligence (AI) to track and control abuse. Creating safer online environments for sports also requires education and platform accountability.

https://www.socialfootballsummit.com/en/online-hate-speech-in-sports-an-increasingly-urgent-challenge/