Ofcom has taken proactive steps by contacting social media platforms to remind them of their responsibilities to combat online harassment, especially as the World Cup nears. The regulatory body has affirmed its commitment to monitoring how these companies manage “illegal hate content” during the tournament.
In response to the distressing incidents encountered by England players during the men’s European Championship in 2021 and the women’s Euros last year, Ofcom has called upon these platforms to implement robust measures to mitigate abuse. The regulator stressed the importance of being prepared for a likely surge in such incidents throughout the World Cup.
Ofcom has flagged online harm associated with major sporting events as a significant issue. Their studies reveal the harmful impact that abuse has on players and others connected to these events.
“In prior tournaments, players, officials, and coaching staff from home nations have faced online hatred, threats, and harassment,” Ofcom’s letter elaborates. “There have often been spikes in the dissemination of this content, particularly targeting Black and minority ethnic players, as well as individuals based on perceived sexual orientation or disability status.”
The findings from Ofcom’s research highlight the pervasive, severe, and frequently normalized nature of online abuse, which encompasses racist and threatening messages aimed at athletes, commentators, and public figures. Many individuals have reported that this harassment can be relentless, highly visible, and difficult to manage, resulting in concerns about personal and family safety, withdrawal from public life, and adverse effects on mental health and wellbeing.
Importantly, Ofcom’s correspondence cites data from FIFA indicating that the quarter-final match between France and England saw the highest increase in abuse directed at players during the 2022 men’s World Cup. This trend echoes the vile treatment received by Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, and Jadon Sancho following England’s penalty shootout loss to Italy in 2021. Additionally, in March, a person received a suspended prison sentence for sending malicious messages to Jess Carter during the women’s Euros in 2025.
Ofcom plans to closely monitor how social media firms manage abuse on their platforms through a “live compliance programme” and will provide insights to key stakeholders, including the Football Association and the UK Football Policing Unit.
The Online Safety Act obligates social media companies to enforce various protective measures for their users. A crucial stipulation requires all platforms to maintain a well-resourced content management team capable of swiftly removing illegal content. Furthermore, they must offer an “easy and accessible” complaints mechanism, tools for users to disable comments, and appoint a designated individual accountable for compliance with these standards.
As the independent authority overseeing online safety since the enactment of the Online Safety Act in 2023, Ofcom possesses the power to impose fines reaching £18 million or up to 10% of a company’s global revenue should they fail to adequately address illegal content.
