Rising online abuse on social media risks high-profile stars being forced out of the sport unless urgent action is taken, according to a new survey from major associations published on Thursday.
The associations also called on social media companies to do more to prevent or block attacks against athletes and officials.
The United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) barometer was carried out in collaboration with 22 global sports associations and NGOs, including world football governing body FIFA and motorsports governing body FIA, and examined the impact of online abuse and hate speech on athletes.
It found that 90 percent of organizations believe some of their top athletes may quit their sport due to online abuse.
Three-quarters say stars harm themselves or their families, while 66 percent believe social media platforms should do more to address the abuse.
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In fact, 75 percent of respondents said helping social media companies combat the problem is “critical to the long-term outcome of any campaign for change.”
“Online abuse is a persistent problem in the world of sport,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who is a founding partner of the UAOA.
The findings come from high-profile online abuse cases involving England soccer player Lauren James and recently retired World Cup rugby referee Wayne Barnes.
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One of the main triggers for the FIA's introduction of the UAOA was the mistreatment of a female steward from Spain at the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix.
“The survey results underscore the importance of collaborative efforts to combat abuse across sports ecosystems and beyond,” said Ben Sulayem.
“We already have the support of a number of sports associations and governments and are in discussions with other stakeholders to increase our support base.”
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The results are based on responses from 22 international sports associations and NGOs, including the world football governing body FIFA, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the cycling association UCI.
“This research provides us with a foundation for our future work,” said Professor David Hassan, principal investigator of the UAOA research study.
“Having established the scale of the problem across all sporting bodies, we are well placed to tackle this issue and address its root causes.”
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Jorge Viegas, president of motorcycle governing body FIM, added: “Our collective approach is one of the best ways to curb this type of abuse.”
Boban Totovski, secretary general of the International Esports Federation, said his organization was “built on respect, not anger.”
“Whether you’re a pro gamer or a weekend warrior, let’s spread positivity and make esports a community and not a battleground,” Totovski said.
“Increase your sportsmanship, not your toxicity. Remember, true victory is respect, not book burning.”
The results and possible measures will be discussed at a conference in Paris next May.
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