FIFA is ramping up its campaign against online abuse in football, revealing that more than 30,000 harmful social-media posts have already been flagged this year through its Social Media Protection Service (SMPS).
Launched in 2022, the SMPS uses a mix of advanced technology and human moderators to spot racist, discriminatory or threatening content aimed at players and officials. Since its introduction, over 65,000 abusive posts have been escalated for review by major platforms.
This year alone, 11 individuals from countries including Spain, the UK, Argentina, Brazil, France, Poland and the United States have been referred to police for abuse linked to FIFA competitions. In one severe case, the matter was passed on to Interpol.
FIFA has also begun blacklisting repeat offenders, barring them from purchasing tickets to future FIFA events.
During this year’s Club World Cup in the United States, the SMPS monitored 2,401 active accounts across five major social-media platforms, analysing 5.9 million posts. Of these, 179,517 were flagged for review and 20,587 were formally reported.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stressed that football must remain “a safe and inclusive space, on the pitch, in the stands and online,” adding that abuse “has no place in our game.”
Spain steps up monitoring of online hate
FIFA’s tougher stance mirrors growing concern in Spain about rising online hate in football. The government’s Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), working with LaLiga and the Ministry of Inclusion, has been tracking digital abuse through its FARO system. Thousands of messages targeting players, particularly those with immigrant backgrounds, were recorded last season alone.
Spanish football authorities, supported by LaLiga, have taken several cases to court, reinforcing the message that racism and discrimination, whether online or in stadiums, will not be tolerated.
UK authorities put abuse under the microscope
In the UK, FIFA’s campaign comes as police continue to investigate large numbers of abusive posts aimed at footballers. The UK Football Policing Unit has logged nearly 600 online-abuse referrals involving England players in recent years, with the majority involving racist or homophobic content.
One high-profile case involved England defender Jess Carter, who reported receiving racist messages during the Women’s Euro 2025. Police became involved, and Carter later announced she was stepping away from social media for her own wellbeing.
FIFA’s stepped-up monitoring, combined with national efforts in both Spain and the UK, signals a decisive shift in how football tackles online abuse. What was once brushed off as “part of the game” is now being treated as a serious offence, with abuse being tracked, punished, and prevented.
