It is incredible how the tentacles of racism and hatred that spreads through digital platforms continues unchecked and continues to sweep the world of sport. It is certain that the abuse of sporting icons will not disappear anytime soon
It makes no difference whether it is because of a player’s skin color or performance, the hate generators of the global cyberspace are on the lookout to attack. It could be one of the most persistent scandals in sport, exposing its inability to banish intolerance and digital abuse.
Hate and attacks on social media are spreading
Despite the seriousness of some incidents, administrative responses remain desperately inadequate, leaving victims frightened, traumatised and vulnerable.
In 2023, at Mestalla, Valencia, Real Madrid‘s galactico Vinicius Jr. stopped the match, confronting the fans over alleged racist abuse, which activated LaLiga‘s protocol
Valencia demands Netflix retract “false” subtitles from a TikTok video, but three fans were sentenced to eight months in prison, a first in Spain. Fingerprints, IP addresses and account metadata expose the false anonymity of abusers, but governments remain unmoved.
In England, Everton star Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wife Sandra faced torrents of racist and misogynistic abuse online after praising his play. Everton condemned the “criminal” attacks, but governments ignore the traceable digital traces, leaving athletes vulnerable.
The problem extends beyond club football. During Euro 2024, a specific program to monitor online abuse detected more than 9,000 abusive posts, 91% of which were processed by social media platformsNFL star wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered racial slurs on X after a 2024 loss, while NBA’s LeBron James faced similar criticism after the game.
How long until a public tragedy forces action?
Athletes of any color, male or female, are scapegoats for defeat. Tennis player Serena Williams received hate messages after a match in 2024, and her family was attacked online. This digital hatred, mixed with racism, robs the joy of sport, without the authorities apathetically addressing it.
Players have started to take matters into their own hands. In 2021, a social media boycott by football clubs and players aimed to pressure platforms to take tougher action against online abuse. While the protest raised awareness, tangible changes remain limited.
The persistent online abuse of athletes from all sports and their families is an urgent problem that demands comprehensive measures, but none are in the pipeline.
Abusers try to hide behind anonymity, but digital fingerprints, such as geolocation and user IDs, are undeniable. Governments’ refusal to act, despite these tools, emboldens hatred.
When venomous taunts and threats ring out unchecked on our screens, athletes and their loved ones are caught in a digital war zone. Each message of hate undermines their courage, turning victory into vulnerability and passion into fear
It’s time to demand relentless zero-tolerance policies and ironclad enforcement by the government, because no player, parent or partner should ever pay the ultimate price for a missed goal or a lost match.
Athlon Sports Information
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