© APA/EVA MANHART / EVA MANHART
ÖTV is setting up a task force on the topic of cyber bullying. Recently, a number of local professionals reported serious cases.
It’s a problem that has been around for years, but has recently become increasingly apparent. The case of Tamira Paszekthe one Death threat above Social media made public, caused quite a stir. Also other tennis professionals, like Sebastian Ofner, Yuri Rodionov or Dennis Novak explained that something similar had happened to them. Now he reacts Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV) with a task force on this topic.
➤ More about the case of Tamira Paszek
Numerous ÖTV top professionals reported these days, especially during the Davis Cup match between Austria and Portugal in the Multiverse Schwechat, such hateful comments on the Internet after defeats or lost games or sets have now become the sad standard.
ÖTV does not want to accept this and is taking action on its part. “We will act as supporters of the Play Fair Code“, which aims to create clean and manipulation-free competitions, and to take a decisive stand against any form of hatred and violence on the Internet,” says ÖTV President Martin Ohneberg. ÖTV would like to use the players’ most recent descriptions as an opportunity to take concrete steps and… Task-Force in order to avoid as much as possible an influence on the outcome of the matches in the future.
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➤ More about the statements about cyber bullying from the ÖTV players
“The stories from our players have made it clear to us how big this problem has become and what extreme forms it is taking. It is therefore time to act and take concrete steps against it. We would like to thank our main sponsor and partner win2day “I would like to thank everyone who financed and thereby made the establishment of this task force and the associated legal steps possible,” said ÖTV President Martin Ohneberg.
Attacks via the internet: Sebastian Ofner unpacked in Schwechat
© Image: APA/EVA MANHART
From racist insults to death threats
While most below-the-belt messages to players are limited to tirades and sometimes serious insults, some are completely degenerate. The spectrum ranges from racist insults and death threats to threats towards those in the immediate vicinity, life partners and families. During the Davis Cup against Portugal, Sebastian Ofner reported that after his unfortunate opening defeat at Generali Open Kitzbühel after a 6:4, 5:0 lead 300 hateful comments had received. In addition, he had already been written once or twice saying that the author of such a message would come to the next tournament and kill him there – mentioning the next tournament that Ofner had planned.
Hate comments should be deleted
Jurij Rodionov asked after the frustrating round of 16 defeat at the NÖ Open in Tulln his social media manager, first of all any hate comments to delete it before he wanted to open and use the Instagram platform again. And Dennis Novak said that he even received numerous hate comments after every single game, including his own Girlfriend the target of verbal attacks.
Also ÖTV sports director and –Davis Cup captain Jürgen Melzer had experiences with hate and violence online during his active career. His suggestion to combat this, on the sidelines of the Davis Cup: The obligation to only be able to use your real name on all social media portals.
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2023-09-19 09:03:16
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