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FIFA has revealed the scale of online abuse directed at players, coaches and officials, reporting more than 65,000 abusive social media posts to platforms since launching its Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) in 2022, with nearly half of those cases emerging in 2024 alone.
The figures, released to mark the International Day for Tolerance, underline what FIFA describes as a rapidly growing problem threatening the safety and wellbeing of those involved in the game. Over 30,000 abusive posts have already been reported this year, prompting increased scrutiny from both social media platforms and law enforcement agencies.
FIFA said 11 individuals across seven countries, including Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland, Spain, the UK and the US, have been referred to authorities for further investigation in 2024. One case has been escalated to Interpol, and Member Associations have been notified to take any necessary local action. Offenders identified by the system are also being blacklisted from purchasing tickets for future FIFA events.
The volume of abuse became particularly stark during this year’s inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™ in the United States. The SMPS monitored 2,401 accounts across five social media platforms, analysing 5.9 million posts throughout the tournament. Of these, an extraordinary 179,517 posts were flagged for review, with 20,587 ultimately reported to platforms for removal due to violent, discriminatory or threatening content.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the numbers illustrate an urgent need for action.
“Football must be a safe and inclusive space, on the pitch, in the stands and online,” he said. “Our message is clear: abuse has no place in our game, and we will continue to work with Member Associations, confederations and law enforcement to hold offenders accountable.”
The SMPS filters and blocks abusive messages before they reach their intended recipients, while also collecting data to support disciplinary and legal measures. FIFA says the service is now operating year-round for all players, teams, officials and Member Associations as it intensifies efforts to curb the normalisation of online hate.
Featured Image Credit: Unsplash / Jay Pics, Unsplash / Muhammad Usman
