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Online Abuse And Racism’s Venom Poisons Sport

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Andy Hageman | Last updated May 23, 2025 3:24 PM ET

Racism’s vile claws and online hate continue unchecked, and is ripping through a world of sports. The abuse of sports icons is not going away any time soon. It doesn't matter whether it is a player's skin color, or their performance, keyboard warriors the world-over are waiting to pounce. It may be one of sport’s most enduring scandals, exposing its failure to address bigotry and digital abuse.

Despite the severity of some incidents, administrative responses remain desperately inadequate, leaving victims scared, scarred and vulnerable.

In 2023, at Valencia’s Mestalla, Real Madrid Galactico Vinícius Jr. halted play, confronting fans for alleged racist slurs, triggering La Liga’s protocol. Valencia demands Netflix retract “false” subtitles from a TikTok clip, but three fans received eight-month prison sentences, a Spanish first. Digital footprints, IP addresses, account metadata, expose abusers’ false anonymity, yet governments sit idle.

In England, Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s wife, Sandra, faced racist, misogynistic torrents online after praising his play. Everton slammed the “criminal” attacks, but governments ignore traceable digital trails, leaving athletes vulnerable.

The problem extends beyond club football. During UEFA Euro 2024, a dedicated online abuse monitoring program flagged over 9,000 abusive posts, with 91% actioned by social media platforms. The majority targeted individual players, underscoring the widespread nature of the issue. The scourge spans sports. NFL star Tyreek Hill endured racial slurs on X after a 2024 loss, while NBA’s LeBron James faced similar vitriol post-game

How long until a public tragedy forces action?

Athletes of any color, male or female, are scapegoated for losses. Tennis star Serena Williams received hateful messages after a 2024 match, her family targeted online. This digital hate, laced with racism, steals sport’s joy, unaddressed by lethargic authorities.

Players have begun to take matters into their own hands. In 2021, a social media boycott by football clubs and players aimed to pressure platforms into taking stronger action against online abuse. While the protest raised awareness, tangible changes remain limited.

The persistent online abuse of athletes of all sports and their families is a pressing issue that demands comprehensive action, but none is in the pipeline.

Abusers attempt to cloak themselves in anonymity, but digital footprints, like geolocation, user IDs, are undeniable. Governments’ refusal to act, despite these tools, emboldens hate.

When venomous taunts and threats echo unchecked across our screens, athletes and their loved ones are trapped in a digital war zone. Each hateful message chips away at their courage, turning victory into vulnerability and passion into fear. It’s time to demand ruthless zero-tolerance policies and ironclad government enforcement, because no player, parent, or partner should ever pay the ultimate price for a missed goal or a lost game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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