FIFA reveals over half of World Cup participants faced online abuse

FIFA’s Social Media Protection Service examined a large volume of social-media content during the World Cup and identified that 812 out of 1,606 players, coaches and referees were directly subjected to offensive messages. The report highlights that Alexander Sørloth endured severe trolling following Norway’s defeat to England in the quarter-finals, and that Norway was the seventh most targeted nation among the 48 participants, especially after their 2-1 victory over Brazil in the round of 16.

French participants faced the most abuse overall, with England and Portugal following. The analysis recorded 2,905 accounts reported for violations, of which 786 are under police investigation, and 9.2 million posts were blocked by moderators before public view. The most harassed player received over 10,000 abusive comments, 40 % of which were racist. FIFA warns that such online hate can harm mental health, potentially leading to anxiety, chronic stress and depression.