FIFA's Social Media Protection Service recorded a dramatic surge in hostile online messages during the group phase of the 2024 World Cup, logging 89,000 abusive posts — a thirteen‑fold rise over the 2022 edition.
Rising Abuse in the World Cup
Racial slurs accounted for roughly eleven percent of that volume, marking a three‑point increase from the previous tournament, underscoring a persistent problem of discrimination across the sport.
The SMPS scanned more than six million posts and comments, a thirty‑three percent jump from the last edition, and flagged 225,000 items for human review, of which 89,000 were confirmed as abusive. Automated filters succeeded in hiding about 181,000 hateful remarks, while over two million messages were moderated, including spam and bot‑generated content.
The expansion to a 48‑team format amplified the pool of content, but FIFA stresses that the rise in numbers does not diminish its commitment to player safety.
Among those targeted were Dutch forwards Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber and Crysencio Summerville, who each faced a barrage of racist abuse after their side’s defeat to Morocco, illustrating how quickly online vitriol can reach individual athletes.
SMPS also compiles evidence for law‑enforcement agencies, and more than one hundred cases have met the legal thresholds required for further investigation, signaling a growing willingness to pursue perpetrators.