GENEVA: FIFA’s social media tools designed to protect players from online abuse will now be available to all 211 member associations and their teams, world soccer’s governing body said on Tuesday, coinciding with the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.
The Social Media Protection Service (SMPS), which was developed by FIFA and the players’ union FIFPRO, was first offered to all teams at the 2023 women’s World Cup to help moderate hate speech on social media and hide harmful content.
FIFA said a number of teams competing at the ongoing European Championship and the upcoming Copa America have joined the SMPS.
“We have already seen how effective the service has been in FIFA tournaments and it is only logical that we make it available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations, wherever and whenever they play,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
“We need to protect all players, coaches, officials and teams from abuse, as well as their followers.”
The tool was launched at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and since then FIFA said the service had hidden 2.6 million abusive comments from public view.
Nearly 31,000 cases of “abusive content” were reported to social media platforms — such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube — which led to consequences such as account suspensions.
Meanwhile, one in five players were the target of online abuse during the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
FIFA said the SMPS will also be used at upcoming events such as the Olympic Games in Paris, the Under-20 women’s World Cup in Colombia, the Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan and the Under-17 women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
FIFA offers tools to fight social media abuse to all 211 member countries
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FIFA offers tools to fight social media abuse to all 211 member countries
- FIFA said a number of teams competing at the ongoing European Championship and the upcoming Copa America have joined the SMPS
- “We have already seen how effective the service has been in FIFA tournaments and it is only logical that we make it available to all 211 FIFA Member Associations,” Infantino said
Maresca ‘relaxed’ about Chelsea’s rough patch
- Chelsea boss Maresca was Friday named Premier League manager of the month for November
- “For us November was fantastic. December, we didn’t start in the way we would like, even if it’s just one week ago we played Leeds, ” Maresca said
LONDON: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said he was “completely relaxed” about his side’s dip in form as he seeks greater consistency ahead of Saturday’s home match against Everton.
The Blues thumped Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League on November 25 and earned an impressive 1-1 draw against Premier League leaders Arsenal days later.
But they have not won since, losing at Leeds and Atalanta and drawing with Bournemouth.
Chelsea boss Maresca was Friday named Premier League manager of the month for November, in recognition of his side’s unbeaten record.
“We are in December now,” he said, laughing, at his press conference.
“This kind of thing is because you do the right things in terms of performance and results,” he added.
“For us November was fantastic. December, we didn’t start in the way we would like, even if it’s just one week ago we played Leeds (a 3-1 defeat on December 3).
“So it’s just three games in a row in one week that we didn’t get the results that we expect but we are now focused on the next one.”
Chelsea, who won the UEFA Conference League and Club World Cup last season, are fifth in the Premier League, eight points behind Arsenal.
Maresca said he was relaxed about Chelsea’s mini-slump.
“It’s football, it’s completely normal,” he said. “I understand most of the time we are always looking for problems or things we need to solve.
“The Leeds game was last Wednesday, eight or nine days ago. We are not going to change our season because we didn’t get the points that we expect.
“But I’m completely relaxed, I’m completely OK because I’m sure that at the end of the season we’re going to be where we have to be.”
The Italian admitted that improving consistency was the next step for his young squad.
“In terms of human beings, it’s impossible to be all season at the same level but for sure probably we need to learn things and to avoid that in the future,” he said.
Maresca said forward Cole Palmer should be available to face Everton after missing Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Atalanta.
