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BBC News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Sport stars fear 'vile' abuse could cost a life
Content warning: This article contains discussion around suicide and mental health. Sportspeople and pundits have told a regulator that "vile" online abuse has become so severe they fear it could lead to someone taking their own cricketer Azeem Rafiq, broadcaster and ex-England footballer Eni Aluko and ex-rugby referee Wayne Barnes were among those interviewed by the government's online safety regulator, with the football anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out, Ofcom spoke to figures from across sport and broadcasting to get an understanding of their experiences to help with tackling the heard that one person barricaded themselves indoors following abuse, and others reported suffering from disordered eating. Fear, anxiety and paranoia had all resulted from suffering abuse, Ofcom said."Participants raised concerns that it might only be a matter of time before online hate and abuse becomes a major factor contributing to the suicide of someone in the sector," Ofcom said in its report documenting the body spoke to seven selected individuals and held nine discussion groups to examine the impacts of the interviewed said online platforms needed to offer more protection and felt current tools - such as the ability to block or mute accounts - were not report - Online Hate and Abuse in Sport - was released on Friday. What is Ofcom doing about it? Some of the abuse encountered by people in sport is illegal under UK law. The Online Safety Act dictates that social media platforms have a duty to protect says it is working on a code of practice to help the companies meet their added projects such as this research would help to shape its work with the of the abuse detailed is not considered illegal, but Ofcom says it will be "pushing" the companies to make their platforms safer."So many people who work in sport are subjected to vile abuse online. This is having a devastating impact on them, their livelihoods and their families, and no-one should have to put up with it," said Jessica Zucker, online safety director at Ofcom."The UK's new online safety laws mean tech firms now have to start protecting people on their sites and apps from illegal forms of abuse."And when all the rules are fully in force, some of the largest social media platforms will have to give users more control over what they see online."We'll be pushing companies hard to make their services safer by design, and holding them to account if they don't."The Online Safety Act became law in October 2023, though some elements - for example, a series of child safety rules - have not yet come into force. 'I was very, very scared, I didn't leave my house for a week' Those interviewed told researchers about the scale of abuse they suffered and its were chosen because they had experience of abuse. Former Yorkshire cricketer Rafiq encountered abuse and threats after documenting the racism he suffered in the game."The abuse left me feeling incredibly paranoid, at times, and often made me question my sanity," Rafiq says in the report."The impact of this experience on me as a human being and on my mental health has damaged my life to such an extent, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to quantify it."Aluko, who last month won the first stage of a libel case after being targeted on social media by ex-footballer Joey Barton, is not quoted in the report but did contribute to rugby referee Barnes detailed the abuse aimed at his wife, which he says "shocked" him. Much of it originated after contentious decisions taken in games, he said."I wasn't active on social media. She then became the subject of the abuse, with people attacking her personally via direct messages to her social media accounts and work email address, or by posting fake and offensive friend requests. The abuse went on for some time," Barnes said "misogynistic language" and even "threats of sexual violence" were aimed at report documents how "a female TV sports presenter will get horrendous amounts of abuse, often just about what she's wearing".Another contributor said: "I didn't leave my house for a week because of the impact of online abuse, the sort of wave [of intensity] and the amount of people that are abusing you."Researchers were told that the fear of receiving more abuse led to some of the contributors turning down Bhandari, chair of the anti-discrimination body Kick It Out, said: "The impact of online abuse is undeniable, and the rise in discriminatory social media reports to Kick It Out last season shows it's getting worse."He said the Ofcom report showed "a culture of abuse that has become normalised"."It's vital that we see social media companies step up with meaningful tools that give users real control over what they see and experience online," he you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Abuse has become normalised': report details devastating impact of online hate
The amount of 'vile' online abuse directed at people in sport is getting worse and is having a 'devastating impact' on their lives, livelihoods and families, a new report by Ofcom and Kick It Out has found. One anonymous respondent said they had even barricaded themselves inside their house for a week for fear of who they might meet outside, while others spoke of the damage done by threats made to themselves or their families. They included Azeem Rafiq, who told the report that nothing could prepare him for the abuse he received after speaking out about racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club. 'The impact of this experience on me as a human being and on my mental health has damaged my life to such an extent, I'm not sure I'll ever be able to quantify it,' he said. 'People would post on social media that I was a 'Dirty P-word'; that I should 'Fuck off back to Pakistan' and that 'All Muslims are bombers'. The abuse left me feeling incredibly paranoid, at times, and often made me question my sanity.' Meanwhile, the former rugby referee Wayne Barnes said that while he could cope with abuse suggesting that he should be hanged, and images of him as an effigy being attacked, it was a different story when it was directed at his wife. 'What made it worse was the direct impact over time on my family,' he said. 'Misogynistic language aimed at my wife because of her association with me, including comments like 'You fucking bitch! You slut! Tell your husband he's shit' and, at times, threats of sexual violence.' The report also spoke to sport stars, who said abuse had the potential to affect their performance, as well as presenters who said they often self-censored because of online hate. The Kick It Out chair, Sanjay Bhandari, said the report showed that abuse of people in sport had become 'normalised'. 'The impact of online abuse is undeniable, and the rise in discriminatory social media reports to Kick It Out last season shows it's getting worse,' he said. 'This isn't about a few hateful comments. It's about a culture of abuse that has become normalised. It's about a social media ecosystem that too often enables and amplifies abuse. And it's about victims who feel imprisoned by that culture of abuse.' While much of the abuse is not illegal under the law, the report found it still had a deep impact – with those sending it becoming bolder because of the perceived lack of consequences. Social media platforms now have a duty under the Online Safety Act to do more to protect users. However, Jessica Zucker, online safety director at Ofcom, said they needed to be more proactive. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'So many people who work in sport are subjected to vile abuse online,' she said. 'This is having a devastating impact on them, their livelihoods and their families, and no one should have to put up with it. The UK's new online safety laws mean tech firms now have to start protecting people from illegal forms of abuse. We'll be pushing companies hard to make their services safer by design, and holding them to account if they don't.'
