The 2023 Women’s World Cup witnessed a disturbing and disheartening trend of targeted abuse on social media platforms. According to a recent report by FIFA, the United States women’s national team (USWNT) experienced the highest number of discriminatory or threatening posts among all competing nations. This alarming data sheds light on the dark side of social media and highlights the urgent need for concrete actions to address this issue.
A comprehensive study commissioned by FIFA, in collaboration with global players’ association FIFPRO, utilized the FIFA Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) to analyze over 5.1 million posts and comments across various platforms. The data revealed that more than 150 players at the Women’s World Cup were subjected to targeted abuse. Shockingly, the USWNT and the Argentina national team players received a significantly higher number of abusive messages compared to their counterparts.
The report highlights how the USWNT was disproportionately targeted, with over twice the number of discriminatory or threatening posts compared to any other participating nation. Of the 7,085 abusive posts flagged, 6,184 originated from X accounts. Furthermore, the SMPS data revealed that two-thirds (67%) of the accounts posting abuse were traced back to North and Central America.
The abusive posts directed towards the USWNT predominantly focused on the players’ choice not to sing the national anthem before games. Notably, the volume of abusive messages spiked following the team’s failure to defeat Portugal in a group game. The abusive trend reached its peak on August 6, following the USWNT’s exit from the tournament after their defeat against Sweden. President Joe Biden’s expression of support towards the American players also triggered an influx of abusive messages.
The report underlines Spain’s victory over England in the final as another significant event that led to a surge in abusive messages. Female Spanish players faced sexist and misogynistic comments after the incident when then-Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales kissed player Jenni Hermoso during the trophy presentation ceremony. The study reveals that 23.31% of the abusive messages were classified as general abuse, while 20.4% were anti-gay messages, and 15.03% had explicit sexual content.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino strongly condemned the targeted abuse and emphasized that discrimination has no place in football or society at large. The report serves as a wake-up call for social media platforms to take immediate and effective measures against online abuse. Additionally, it puts pressure on authorities to pursue legal action against perpetrators who engage in such behavior.
The disheartening prevalence of targeted abuse towards female players at the 2023 Women’s World Cup raises serious concerns about the impact of social media on athletes’ mental well-being. This issue demands collective efforts from authorities, social media platforms, sports organizations, and society as a whole to create a safe and inclusive online environment. Failure to address this problem not only violates basic human rights but also tarnishes the spirit of sportsmanship and hampers the growth of women’s football. It is crucial that we stand against online abuse and work towards cultivating a culture of respect and support in the digital realm.
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