Expert voices: Beyond banter - online harm in football

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Expert voices: Beyond banter - online harm in football

Beyond banter: online harm in football

Published on 27 May 2026

By Professor Julia Davidson OBE, Professor of Criminal Justice & Cybercrime and Director of the Institute for Connected Communities at the University of East London.

 

With another World Cup approaching, concerns are growing about the rise of online abuse surrounding football and the role social media platforms play in amplifying it.

From the racist abuse directed at Vinícius Júnior in Spain to the torrent of hate targeting England players after major tournament matches, online hostility has become an increasingly visible part of modern football culture. During the Euro 2020 final, England players Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho were subjected to widespread racist abuse after missing penalties — a moment that exposed the scale and speed at which online hate can spread during major sporting events.

More recently, a BBC investigation found that more than 2,000 verified abusive social media posts including death threats, rape threats, racist abuse and homophobic slurs were directed at Premier League and Women’s Super League figures during a single weekend of fixtures. Researchers also identified a 25% year-on-year rise in severe online abuse, highlighting how hostility online is becoming increasingly normalised within football culture.

As global football audiences continue to grow online, these incidents are no longer isolated examples of fans behaving badly. They reflect wider concerns about how digital platforms amplify outrage, hostility and coordinated abuse during moments of intense public attention.

Online abuse in football is often dismissed as fans behaving badly on social media. But research increasingly shows the issue is far more systemic. Football has become one of the clearest examples of how racism, misogyny, extremism and organised online hostility are amplified through digital platforms designed to maximise engagement and emotional reaction.

Football goalie

The scale of abuse directed at players, pundits, officials and supporters continues to grow during major football events. High-profile matches, controversial decisions and moments of intense public scrutiny regularly trigger waves of coordinated online hostility. These are not isolated incidents. They are predictable patterns shaped by platform design, online networks and wider social tensions.

Research shows that online hate in football spreads through interconnected digital communities where abuse is reinforced through reposts, replies, shares and algorithmic amplification.

Social media systems reward emotionally charged content regardless of whether that engagement is positive or harmful. Outrage and hostility therefore travel further and faster than ordinary discussion.

Football is particularly vulnerable to these dynamics because it generates huge emotional investment and constant real-time online interaction. Matches no longer exist solely inside stadiums. They unfold simultaneously across digital platforms where millions react instantly to players, referees, managers and commentators.

One of the most concerning aspects of this environment is the growth of misogyny within online football culture. Women involved in football continue to experience disproportionate levels of abuse, including sexual harassment, intimidation and coordinated pile-ons. Female pundits, referees, journalists and supporters are often targeted not because of what they say, but because of their presence within football spaces.

Misogyny also intersects with racism and homophobia, creating compounded harms for women from marginalised communities. Importantly, this cannot be separated from wider concerns around violence against women and girls. Digital abuse contributes to hostile environments that affect participation, wellbeing and safety both online and offline.

UEL football players

At the same time, extremist groups increasingly exploit football’s cultural influence and emotional power. Online football communities can become spaces where racist, nationalist and anti-feminist narratives spread rapidly to large audiences, particularly young men. Harmful narratives now circulate through memes, influencer culture and mainstream social media conversations rather than only fringe platforms.

This is particularly important when considering how young audiences experience football online. Increasingly, football content is consumed through clips, livestreams, influencer commentary and algorithm-driven feeds rather than traditional broadcasts alone. Young users are often exposed not only to match discussion, but also to toxic commentary, abuse and extremist narratives embedded within football conversations online.

Research into online harms consistently shows that repeated exposure to hostile digital environments can shape attitudes, behaviours and perceptions over time. When racism, misogyny or violent threats become normalised within everyday online football culture, there is a risk that these behaviours become viewed as inevitable or acceptable parts of fandom.

Current responses remain fragmented. Social media companies still rely heavily on reactive moderation systems that struggle during high-volume football events. Victims frequently report inconsistent enforcement and poor transparency around moderation decisions. While campaigns promoting inclusion and anti-racism remain important, they are often undermined by platform systems that continue to reward outrage, conflict and emotional escalation.

A more coordinated response is urgently needed. Platforms must be held more accountable for how their systems amplify harmful content, particularly during predictable high-risk events such as international tournaments and derby matches. Misogyny must also be treated as a central dimension of online football abuse rather than secondary to racism or extremism.

Importantly, tackling abuse in football cannot focus solely on removing individual posts after harm has already occurred. Greater attention must be paid to the digital infrastructures driving amplification in the first place — including recommendation systems, engagement incentives and networked online communities that allow abuse to spread rapidly and repeatedly.

Ultimately, online hate in football is not simply about individual behaviour. It is shaped by digital systems, incentives and online infrastructures that can be challenged, redesigned and regulated. Football offers a highly visible example of wider problems emerging across online culture more broadly. Until policymakers and platforms address the wider ecosystem driving online abuse, meaningful progress will remain limited.

Please contact pressoffice@uel.ac.uk with interview requests.

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