Toxic online abuse leading to talent drain of top sports officials

Friday, 07 February 2025 at 11:45

The escalating scale of online abuse is threatening the future of sport, with referees, officials, and athletes increasingly targeted, according to a landmark report from the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign.

The 2025 Barometer, launched at the FIA Officials Summit at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama - RACE by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, reveals that half of all sporting officials and referees are now subjected to routine online abuse. The report also highlights that over 50% of abuse directed at competitors is either misogynistic or racist, a significant rise from the previous year.

FIA President and UAOA founder Mohammed Ben Sulayem underlined the gravity of the situation: “Last year, UAOA highlighted the devastating personal toll online abuse has on competitors and athletes. This second edition report has shone a light on the equally unacceptable abuse faced by officials and referees—essential members of the sporting community who ensure our competitions are conducted fairly, robustly, and with integrity.

“While it’s encouraging to see more federations adopting anti-abuse measures, these findings show that the scale of abuse is continuing to grow. UAOA’s work in 2025 will be critical in fostering collaboration across the sporting, political, and technology sectors to create meaningful, lasting solutions that protect all members of our community,” added Ben Sulayem.

Report compiled in collaboration of the world's sports governing bodies

The report, compiled with input from leading academics and international sporting bodies such as World Athletics, World Aquatics, and the International Esports Federation, details the mounting crisis facing the industry:

FIA Secures EU Backing for Campaign Against Online Abuse in Sport

Officials and referees under attack: 50% of federations reported that referees and officials now face routine online abuse.
Competitor safety at risk: 75% of federations noted continued threats directed at athletes and their families.
Rise in misogyny and racism: Over half of all abuse towards competitors was misogynistic or racist, a marked increase from 2024.
Retention crisis: 90% of federations warned that unchecked online abuse could drive athletes away from sport.
The findings follow several high-profile cases of online abuse targeting officials and referees across multiple sports, fuelling concerns that a failure to tackle the issue could lead to an exodus of key figures from competitive environments.

UAOA expanding efforts to combat online abuse

In response, UAOA has announced a renewed global initiative to combat online abuse, including a major conference in North America in the summer of 2025 and the launch of an EU-backed anti-online abuse initiative across Europe.

The coalition, which has grown by 150% in the past year, now includes 28 members, comprising nine national governments, major sporting federations, and regulatory bodies. Among its recent achievements, UAOA has:

Secured €400,000 in Erasmus+ funding from the European Commission to develop a Pan-European Framework to Combat Online Abuse in Sport.
Established the UAOA Scholarship Programme, funding research on online misogyny in motorsport at Dublin City University.
Launched the industry’s first open-access anti-online abuse educational module, with over 150 students enrolled.
Hosted the first UAOA Conference in Paris, attended by 65 global leaders to discuss unified action.
Published 10 academic reports, including the Online Abuse Barometer, the Sports Journalist Barometer, and Safeguarding Guidelines.
Received the ‘Coalition for Peace’ Award at the Peace and Sport Forum, presented by Prince Albert II of Monaco.

With online abuse now identified as a direct threat to participation in sport, UAOA’s expanding reach and partnerships aim to drive meaningful change across the industry.

The coalition will continue its push for greater collaboration between sporting bodies, governments, and technology platforms to address the issue before it results in a lasting talent drain from professional and grassroots sports alike in the war against online abuse.