In a concerning revelation during the group stage of the European Championship 2024, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) uncovered more than 4,600 offensive, racist, or homophobic messages on social media targeting teams and players.
Belgium emerged as one of the most targeted teams, alongside Croatia, Ukraine, and the Netherlands. UEFA’s vigilant monitoring involved tracking 622 platforms and social media accounts associated with players, coaches, and national team accounts.
This extensive surveillance flagged a total of 4,656 posts from 4,070 individual users on major platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and TikTok for further investigation.
“We believe it is key to protect and support players, coaches, and referees in tackling their exposure to online abuse,” stated Michele Uva, UEFA’s Director of Social and Environmental Sustainability.
“They should be able to focus on their performance on the pitch and not be weighed down by unacceptable abuse directed at them online.”
The detailed breakdown of the flagged messages revealed a staggering 74% were directed at players, 15% at coaches, 7% at teams, and 4% at referees.
The nature of these messages was predominantly hateful, with 94% containing generic hate speech, 4.5% bearing racist insults, and 1.5% comprising homophobic remarks.
Uva emphasized that discrimination, whether in football or society, online or offline, should never be accepted. “Discrimination should never be accepted, whether in football or society, in person or online,” he said, highlighting UEFA’s stance against such behaviors.
Of the total abusive posts identified, 308 posts (7%) were reported directly to the social media platforms for further action. Notably, 71% of these reported posts were sanctioned by the platforms, with deletions occurring on average within 75 minutes of being flagged.
UEFA’s observation program, which was initially launched during the Women’s Euro 2022, underscores its commitment to tackling online abuse in football.
The ongoing efforts to monitor and report offensive content aim to create a safer and more respectful environment for all participants. At the conclusion of Euro 2024, UEFA plans to publish a comprehensive report detailing the findings and outcomes of this monitoring initiative.
This report is expected to provide valuable insights and recommendations for addressing online abuse in football and other sports.
The increasing prevalence of online abuse has raised alarms not only within the football community but also among social media platforms and broader society. UEFA’s proactive measures reflect a growing recognition of the need for collective action to combat this issue.
By holding social media platforms accountable and ensuring timely responses to reported abuse, UEFA aims to set a precedent for other sports organizations and institutions.
As the European Championship progresses, the focus remains on the athletes’ performances and the spirit of the game. However, the underlying efforts to safeguard the mental well-being and dignity of those involved in the tournament are equally crucial.
UEFA’s dedication to this cause serves as a reminder that while the beautiful game is played on the pitch, the fight against discrimination and abuse continues off it.
With the promise of a full report at the end of Euro 2024, stakeholders and fans alike await further developments and the implementation of more robust measures to protect the integrity of the sport and its participants.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
