Fifpro calls for action against rising racist abuse targeting players during World Cup
via SeneNews5 min read
Fifpro, the global union for professional football players, has called for concrete measures to protect players from harassment, including racist abuse, during the ongoing World Cup. The union highlighted that players have been subjected to intimidation and hostile acts both online and in person, many of which were racist and discriminatory. Fifpro emphasized that these incidents are not isolated and require significant sanctions for those responsible, along with a collective commitment from law enforcement, social media platforms, media, supporters, and civil society to reverse this alarming trend. The union stated that while footballers carry the expectations of a nation, this should not come at the expense of their safety, dignity, or well-being. This appeal follows a report from FIFA's Social Media Moderation Service SMPS which identified 89,000 abusive posts during the 2026 World Cup group stage, with 11% being racist in nature. The SMPS, launched in 2022, noted a rise in racist insults, calling it a persistent threat to player well-being. The online hate continued into the knockout phase, with Dutch international players Crysencio Summerville, Justin Kluivert, and Quinten Timber reportedly targeted by racist insults on social media after missing penalty kicks in the Netherlands' loss to Morocco in the round of 32.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by SeneNews.
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