LAUSANNE – One in five players were the target of online abuse during the 2023 Women’s World Cup, Fifa said on Dec 11 as a package of social media protection tools hid nearly 117,000 comments.
The Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), developed by the world governing body with players’ union Fifpro and launched at the 2022 men’s World Cup, was offered to teams at the women’s Finals in Australia and New Zealand, Fifa said in June.
The tool, which has been used at eight Fifa tournaments in the last 12 months, monitors and moderates hate speech on social media, hiding harmful content from the players.
Players at 2023’s Women’s World Cup were 29 per cent more likely to be targeted with online abuse compared with players at 2022’s men’s Finals in Qatar, the Fifa report showed.
About 5.1 million posts and comments in 35 different languages were analysed for abusive content, Fifa said, protecting 697 players and coaches actively using 2,111 accounts across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X and YouTube.
More than 150 female players received targeted discriminatory, abusive or threatening messages during the Australia and New Zealand tournament, where two teams – the United States and Argentina – stood out as key targets.
Homophobic, sexual and sexist abuse accounted for almost 50 per cent of detected abusive messages, the organisation added, and 116,800 comments were hidden across Facebook, Instagram and YouTube as being junk, spam, discriminatory, abusive or threatening.
The final on Aug 20, which saw Spain beat European champions England 1-0, generated the largest spike of abusive content across the tournament, with more than 6,500 comments hidden by SMPS.
“There can be no place on social media for those who abuse or threaten anyone, be that in Fifa tournaments or elsewhere,” said its president Gianni Infantino.
Fifpro president David Aganzo added: “The abuse that persists online impacts football players all over the world and it cannot be ignored.
“This toxic online environment is a risky place to be in for players and it affects their mental health and well-being. Football has a responsibility to protect the players around their workspace.”
Disgraced former Spanish football federation president Luis Rubiales was in October handed a three-year ban from all football activities by Fifa over his conduct at the final, which included kissing Spanish player Jennifer Hermoso without her consent.
Last week, Fifa published its findings into the case, saying it had been tempted to impose a more severe sanction. Its disciplinary committee said Rubiales had acted with “a sense of complete impunity”.
According to the report, Football Association chairwoman Debbie Hewitt said Rubiales “cupped and stroked” the face of England’s Laura Coombs and “seemingly forcefully kissed Lucy Bronze on her face” at the presentation ceremony.
Hewitt added she “felt deeply uncomfortable and embarrassed” at the way Rubiales greeted the Spanish players, which included tapping one on the bottom.
The SMPS tool, which was also used at the 2023 Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia in November and December, uses artificial intelligence to protect the players and also stops their followers being exposed to hate speech. REUTERS, AFP
