More than 50% of Euro and CAN players have been targeted by hate messages

More than half of the players present during the semi-finals and finals of Euro 2021 and AFCON 2022 were victims of some form of discriminatory online abuse, according to a report published by FIFA. A report obtained thanks to an artificial intelligence which peeled more than 400,000 messages on social networks during the semi-finals and final of the two competitions.

Rashford, Sancho and Saka on the front line

A first finding shows that the majority of messages were homophobic (40%) and racist (38%). According to the report, most of the insults came from the players’ home countries.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were widely subjected to racial slurs after missing their penalty kicks in the session against Italy in the Euros final. A substitute player from Egypt was the most insulted at the AFCON finals earlier this year.

The authorities want to react

« Our duty is to protect football and that starts with the players FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in a statement released on Saturday before adding that ” this form of discrimination, like any form of discrimination, has no place in football. »

The report states that abuse on Twitter was constant throughout the period of its study, while abuse on Instagram was “ dictated by events ».

FIFA and FIFPRO will launch moderation tools and offer educational support and mental health advice to players at FIFA tournaments.