FIFA and FIFPRO analysis
Women at the World Cup bombarded with hateful comments
December 12, 2023, 10:18 a.m
At the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the players will not be spared. On social media, users dump their garbage on them. They use homophobic, sexual and racist insults. A FIFA and FIFPRO analysis now produces shocking results.
One in five World Cup soccer players received hate comments on social media during this year’s finals in Australia and New Zealand. This is the result of an analysis by the world association FIFA and the international players’ association FIFPRO.
5.1 million posts and comments aimed at 697 World Cup participants were examined. According to FIFA, 152 players received “discriminatory, insulting or threatening messages.” Almost half were classified as homophobic, sexual or sexist. The study also found that female World Cup players were 29 percent more likely to be the target of online insults compared to participants in the 2022 Men’s World Cup in Qatar. The results come from data compiled by FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service (SMPS).
Law enforcement authorities have been informed
According to FIFA, the contributions were verified using artificial intelligence. The players had the opportunity to register for this. The system filtered out and hidden a total of 116,820 offensive messages. Most of the attacks were directed at Megan Rapinoe’s US national team, which has repeatedly been the target of online insults in recent years. From the DFB selection, Lena Oberdorf reported a flood of hate messages after the historic preliminary round exit.
“There should be no place on social media for those who insult or threaten anyone, whether at FIFA tournaments or anywhere else,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the association’s statement. As part of the monitoring and moderation process, the world governing body also “exchanged information with FIFA member associations and law enforcement authorities to ensure that there is no hiding place in the real world for those who are abusive in the virtual world,” it said .