A new report has revealed a 40% increase in racist abuse on social media during the World Cup, with French star Kylian Mbappe among the most targeted players. The study, conducted by the anti-discrimination organization Kick It Out, analyzed over 1.5 million posts across platforms including X, Facebook, and Instagram during the tournament.
Details of the Abuse
According to the report, racist comments surged by 40% compared to the previous World Cup in 2022. Mbappe received the highest volume of abuse, with over 12,000 racist posts targeting him after France's defeat in the final. Other players, including England's Bukayo Saka and Brazil's Vinicius Junior, also faced significant harassment.
Impact on Players and Campaigns
The abuse has led to renewed calls for stronger action from social media companies. Kick It Out's chief executive, Tony Burnett, said, "The increase in racist abuse is deeply concerning. Platforms must do more to protect players and users from hate." The report also highlighted that 70% of abusive posts remained online for more than 24 hours, despite reporting mechanisms.
Broader Context
The findings come amid ongoing debates about online safety and racism in football. FIFA has launched a monitoring system to detect and flag abusive content during matches, but critics argue that enforcement remains weak. The report recommends mandatory identity verification for social media accounts to reduce anonymity-driven abuse.
