The survey by the United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) includes perspectives from 22 NGOs and global sports federations, including the International Association Football Federation (FIFA), World Athletics, the International Cycling Union (UCI), the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF), World Netball, the International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) and the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

This information includes perspectives from 22 NGOs and global sports federations, including FIFA, World Athletics, UCI, ITF, World Netball, FIM and FIA. 75% of the respondents reported that athletes regularly face threats of harm to themselves or their families. 66% believe that social media platforms should do more to tackle online abuse, with 90% concerned that the issue will cause stars to leave sport.

Among the key findings of the survey, conducted by the UAOA campaign, was the concern that abuse is driving sports stars away from competition. Organisations including FIFA, the UCI, the ITF, World Athletics, World Netball and the FIA contributed to the new research into the extent and impact of online abuse. Coalition members will meet at a conference in Paris in May to discuss next steps. 

Their responses paint a clear picture of a challenging and aggressive social media environment. Three-quarters said that those involved in sport regularly face threats of harm to themselves or their families, with 90% saying that it is likely to lead to them quitting the sport. 

The statistics follow several high-profile cases of online abuse, including those against former England midfielder Eni Aluko, tennis world tennis number eight Daria Kasatkina, Chelsea forward Lauren and recently retired World Cup rugby referee Wayne Barnes. In fact, one of the main triggers for the FIA to set up the UAOA was the mistreatment of an FIA steward from Spain at the 2022 Mexican Grand Prix. 

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, founding partner of the UAOA and President of the FIA, said: "Online abuse is an ongoing issue in the world of sport. A number of international federations have expressed their concerns through our barometer survey and in regular discussions we have had since the launch of the campaign in 2022. The results of the survey underline the importance of united efforts to combat abuse across the sporting ecosystem and beyond." 

"As part of the UAOA campaign, our coalition aims to rid our sport of the scourge of online abuse. Together, we want to bring about behavioural and regulatory change to create a safer, more harmonious environment free from abuse, hate speech and harassment. We already have the support of some sports bodies and governments and are in discussions with other stakeholders to broaden our base of support," he commented. 

The UAOA campaign has been at the forefront of these efforts. Bringing together international federations, governments (from Albania, Belgium, France, Greece, Malaysia, Slovenia, Spain) and NGOs (including Peace and Sport), the group has conducted extensive research into online abuse and hate speech with its research partner, Dublin City University (DCU).

Professor David Hassan, Principal Investigator of the UAOA research study, stated: "This research provides us with a baseline for our future work. Now that we have established the scale of the problem across sports federations, we are well placed to work with other researchers, governments and campaign groups to address the issue and tackle its root causes." 

"In discussions with international federations such as the IOC and FIFA, there is a common desire to gain a better understanding of the cause and effect of online abuse. This is one of the key objectives of our research fellowship programme with DCU. The results of this research will inform our strategic approach going forward," he underlined. 

Dame Liz Nicholl, DBE, President of World Netball, said: "At World Netball, our vision is to make netball a sport that is open to all, and that extends to the online space. We want the whole netball family to feel included and respected on social media. There is no room for abuse. It was important for netball to be part of this UAOA initiative, and we look forward to helping to make social media safe for everyone in our game." 

Jorge Viegas, President of the FIM, the world governing body of motorcycle racing, emphasysed: "The FIM is proud to be a partner of the UAOA and to be part of this first step, so that we can measure and analyse the results to better protect our riders and the sport of motorcycling in general from online abuse." 

"By working together and collaborating with other sports federations, our united approach is one of the best ways to limit this type of abuse. With the results of the survey, we can now look to strengthen certain areas and ensure that we focus our efforts for the next part of this important process," he remarked. 

"The International Esports Federation is built on respect, not anger. Whether you're a professional player or a weekend warrior, let's spread positive vibes and make Esports a community, not a battleground. Increase your sportsmanship, not your toxicity. Remember, the real victory is respect, not burning books. Let's make Esports a place where everyone feels welcome," said Boban Totovski, Secretary General of the International Esports Federation. 

Launched by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and supported by the FIA Foundation, the UAOA Campaign is a research-led coalition aiming to tackle the growing epidemic of online abuse and hate speech in sport. It brings together sports governing bodies, national governments, regulators and technology platforms to drive regulatory and behavioural change. 

The UAOA coalition has welcomed the support of the governments of Albania, Belgium, France, Greece, Malaysia, Slovenia, Spain, the FIM, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK SimSports, and Peace and Sport Monaco. A further 17 federations and international sports organisations, including FIFA, the IOC, the ITF, World Athletics, World Netball and World Squash, will join the Coalition in due course.