Beyond the Beautiful Game: Online Abuse & the Darker Side of European Football
The roar of the crowd, the thrill of the goal, the electric energy of a packed stadium – European football is synonymous with passion, skill and sportsmanship…
…and online abuse.
News headlines bombard us with statistics, yet the numbers feel sterile. They don't convey the true impact of abuse on players, fans and the sport itself. To bridge this gap, we delved into qualitative data, uncovering the raw themes and emotions behind the figures.
The themes we uncovered paint a grim picture, but they are crucial starting points for action.
Within European men’s football, online abuse fits into the following themes:
The Toxicity of Defeat
The Scourge of Racism
Distrust of Foreign Owners
Warped Sense of Tradition
The Toxicity of Defeat
You lose, you pay: Our research unveils a link between losses and a surge in abuse directed at players, coaches and club officials. The bitter sting of defeat leads to vitriolic outbursts that undermine the spirit of sportsmanship.
While sports betting does impact the frequency and intensity of online abuse, it does not explain all online abuse.
The Scourge of Racism
The data speaks a harsh truth: athletes of colour endure overwhelming levels of racist abuse within European football. The persistence of this behaviour exposes a deep-rooted problem.
Distrust of Foreign Owners
Online abuse isn't confined to the pitch. Managers and club officials also face the ugliness of unbridled negativity. Foreign owners, especially, become targets of hate-ridden attacks, fueled by misplaced sentiments of nationalism and distrust of the “outsider”.
A Warped Sense of Tradition
Paradoxically, some of the most vitriolic abuse can arise when a team deviates from its traditional colours. New kits and design modifications trigger a wave of sexism, homophobia and toxic gatekeeping among fan groups. This reveals a problematic fixation on a narrow interpretation of tradition.
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