The 2023 Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand was marred by a distressing revelation. A report commissioned by FIFA and FIFPRO has shed light on the targeted abuse faced by over 150 players on social media platforms. Amongst all participating nations, it was found that the United States women’s national team squad endured more than double the number of discriminatory and threatening posts compared to any other team. This alarming study highlights the urgent need for action to combat cyber abuse in the world of soccer.
The FIFA Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) employed an artificial intelligence program to analyze a staggering 5.1 million posts and comments across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube. Disturbingly, 102,511 posts were flagged for their abusive content and further analyzed by human moderators. Accounts originating from North and Central America, specifically 67% of them, were found to be responsible for the majority of abusive posts. Surprisingly, X accounts constituted 87% of the abusive posts flagged by the SMPS.
While abusive messages were directed towards various players, two unidentified individuals representing the United States and Argentina faced an excessive amount of abusive messages. FIFA has chosen to withhold their names to protect them from further harm. The data reveals that abusive posts towards the U.S. team were predominantly centered around their decision not to sing the national anthem before games. Furthermore, the abuse intensified after the United States’ inability to secure a victory against Portugal in a group game on August 1st. The highest peak of abuse occurred on August 6th when the USWNT’s journey came to an unexpected end after their defeat against Sweden. Interestingly, the abusive messages surged following President Joe Biden’s expression of sympathy towards the U.S. players.
While the overall abuse encompassed various forms, including general abuse (23.31%) and messages of a sexual nature (15.03%), it was shocking to discover that anti-gay messages (20.4%) were also prevalent. Tragically, the victory of Spain over England in the final match stimulated the second-largest spike in abusive messages. In this instance, several Spanish players were targeted with sexist and misogynistic comments after then-Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the trophy presentation ceremony. This incident underscores the deep-rooted sexism and discrimination that unfortunately persists in soccer.
In response to these distressing findings, FIFA president Gianni Infantino made a firm statement denouncing the abuse. He emphasized that there is no place for discrimination in football or society, whether it is within FIFA tournaments or elsewhere. It is crucial for social media platforms, governing bodies, and society as a whole to take immediate action to curb cyber abuse. Measures should be implemented to strengthen moderation, enhance user reporting mechanisms, and hold accountable those responsible for spreading hate and discrimination online.
The prevalence of targeted abuse faced by players in the 2023 Women’s World Cup is a stark reminder of the darker side of social media. The appalling statistics from the FIFA report highlight the urgent need for a united effort to combat cyber abuse. As fans, players, and organizations, we must work together to create a safe and inclusive environment for women’s soccer. Only then can we truly celebrate the incredible talents and achievements of these athletes without fear of prejudice or hatred.
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