FIFA has stepped up its campaign against online abuse in football, revealing more than 30,000 harmful social media posts have already been reported through the Social Media Protection Service (SMPS) this year.
Launched in 2022, SMPS combines advanced technology and human moderators to uncover racist, discriminatory or threatening content targeted at athletes and officials. Since its introduction, over 65,000 abusive posts have been escalated for review by major platforms.
This year alone, 11 people from countries including Spain, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland and the United States have been referred to police for abuse related to FIFA tournaments. In one serious case, the matter was handed over to Interpol.
FIFA has also begun blacklisting repeat offenders and banning them from purchasing tickets to future FIFA events.
During this year’s Club World Cup in the United States, SMPS monitored 2,401 active accounts across five major social media platforms and analyzed 5.9 million posts. Of these, 179,517 were reviewed and 20,587 were formally reported.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino stressed that football must maintain a “safe and inclusive space on the pitch, in the stands and online”, adding: “There should be no abuse in our game.”
Spain strengthens online hate monitoring
FIFA’s tough stance reflects growing concern in Spain over the rise of online hatred in football. The government’s Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) is working with La Liga and the Ministry of Inclusion to track digital abuse through the FARO system. Thousands of messages targeting players, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds, were recorded last season alone.
Spanish football authorities, backed by La Liga, have launched several legal actions, reinforcing the message that racism and discrimination will not be tolerated, both online and in stadiums.
British authorities put abuse under microscope
In the UK, the FIFA campaign comes as police continue to investigate a number of abusive posts targeting soccer players. British Football Police have recorded nearly 600 referrals of online abuse involving England players in recent years, with the majority involving racist or homophobic content.
One high-profile incident involved England defender Jess Carter, who reported receiving racist messages during Women’s Euro 2025. Police intervened and Carter later announced that he was taking a break from social media for his own health.
FIFA’s increased scrutiny, coupled with national initiatives in both Spain and the UK, signals a decisive change in the way football tackles online abuse. What was once dismissed as “part of the game” is now treated as a serious crime, with abuse tracked, punished and prevented.
