More than half of all players at Euros, AFCON finals abused online-study
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[June 20, 2022] (Reuters)
- More than half of all players at the
finals of last year's European Championship and Africa Cup of
Nations (AFCON) were subjected to some form of discriminatory abuse
online, a report published by global soccer governing body FIFA has
revealed.
The independent report used artificial intelligence to track over
400,000 posts on social media platforms during the semi-final and
final stages of the two competitions and found the majority of abuse
to be homophobic (40%) and racist (38%).
It added that much of the abuse came from players' home nations and
took place before, during and after games.
England's Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, who are
Black, were bombarded with online abuse after missing their
spot-kicks in a shootout against Italy which settled the July 11
European Championship final after the game finished in a draw.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2022/Jun/20/images/ads/current/napa_sda_HEROES_2022.png)
The report said a substitute player from Egypt was the most abused
player at the AFCON finals this year.
"Our duty is to protect football and that starts with the players
who bring so much joy and happiness to all of us by their exploits
on the field of play," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a
statement on Saturday.
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![](../images/062022PIX/sports17.jpg)
England's Jadon Sancho looks dejected after his shot was saved by
Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma during the shoot-out Pool via REUTERS/Facundo
Arrizabalaga
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_2021.gif)
"Unfortunately, there is a trend developing where a
percentage of posts on social media channels directed towards
players, coaches, match officials and the teams themselves is not
acceptable, and this form of discrimination -- like any form of
discrimination – has no place in football."
The report added that the abuse on Twitter was constant across the
period of its study while Instagram abuse was "event driven" -- like
losing a final -- and more than 75% of comments on the platform
included emojis.
Reuters has contacted Twitter and Instagram for comment.
Ahead of the World Cup starting in Qatar in November, FIFA said it
would work with players' body FIFPRO to implement a plan to protect
teams, players, officials, and supporters from abuse on social media
during international tournaments.
The two bodies will launch moderation tools and offer educational
support and mental health advice to players at FIFA tournaments.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken
Ferris)
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