Ask Onix
Warning: This report includes descriptions of offensive language and threats.
Managers bear brunt of social media abuse in English football
A BBC investigation with data analytics firm Signify found over 2,000 extreme abusive posts-including death and rape threats-targeting Premier League and Women's Super League managers and players during a single November weekend. Coaches received more abuse than players, with 82% of the messages posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Key findings from the analysis
The study examined social media activity during 10 Premier League and six WSL matches on 8-9 November. Signify's AI system, Threat Matrix, scanned more than 500,000 posts across X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok, flagging 22,389 as potentially abusive. Human reviewers later confirmed 2,015 met the threshold for extreme abuse, violating platform policies.
UK and Irish accounts accounted for 61% of the abusive messages. The data suggests the volume of such posts is rising, with a 25% year-on-year increase reported by Signify.
Most targeted figures
In the Premier League, managers Ruben Amorim (Sporting Lisbon, misidentified in some posts as Manchester United's), Arne Slot (Liverpool), and Eddie Howe (Newcastle) were the primary targets. Chelsea and their WSL coach Sonia Bompastor faced half of all abuse directed at women's football during the study period.
"Abuse is never acceptable, whether it's about me or other managers. We expect criticism-that's normal. But I know it exists, even if I don't see it myself."
Arne Slot, Liverpool manager
Nature of the abuse
Messages included racist slurs, homophobic remarks, and threats of violence. Screenshots obtained by the BBC showed death threats sent to Amorim, such as "Kill Amorim-someone get that dirty Portuguese," and a homophobic slur directed at Bompastor. Monkey emojis were used in racist posts targeting Black players, including Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers.
Thirty-nine posts-including rape threats and monkey emojis-were escalated for further action. One was reported to police, who determined it did not meet the threshold for prosecution. Football clubs were notified in some cases to aid in identifying abusive fans.
Platform responses and accountability
Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, removed only one of the flagged posts, while others remain under review. X suppressed the reach of some abusive content but left most online. Neither company responded to the BBC's request for comment.
The Online Safety Act, enacted in October 2023, legally requires platforms to proactively remove illegal content such as threats and hate speech. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, is tasked with enforcing compliance. However, social media companies argue that free speech concerns limit their willingness to censor content.
"If this happened on the street, it would have criminal consequences. Why do people feel immune online? We need to end this."
Maheta Molango, Professional Footballers' Association CEO
Clubs take action amid frustration with platforms
Growing dissatisfaction with social media companies has led clubs to adopt their own measures. Arsenal, working with Signify for three years, reported a 90% reduction in abusive messages from affiliated fans after implementing education programs and banning offenders from matches. Chelsea's women's team has since partnered with the same firm.
Tottenham are investigating season-ticket holders accused of posting abusive content. Premier League officials noted they monitor matches for triggers like goals, penalties, or cards, which often correlate with spikes in abuse. The league has investigated over 4,000 cases of online discriminatory abuse since 2020.
"We're constantly monitoring matches for abuse triggers. Platforms could do more by adjusting algorithms. The League is committed to identifying and prosecuting offenders."
Tim Cooper, Premier League Director of Content Protection
Impact on mental health and safety
Bompastor highlighted the real-world consequences of online abuse, particularly in women's football, where security measures are less robust than in the men's game. She noted the distress caused to players' families, including her own children, who are exposed to the threats.
"People think they can say anything from behind a screen. It's frightening. Threats affect mental health and can have severe consequences. Social media companies aren't taking enough responsibility."
Sonia Bompastor, Chelsea WSL manager
England defender Jess Carter, formerly of Chelsea, was subjected to racist abuse during Euro 2025. Bompastor urged clubs to proactively protect players and staff, warning that waiting for platforms to act would prolong the issue.
Rising abuse linked to match incidents
The most significant surge in abusive posts occurred during Tottenham's 2-2 draw with Manchester United on 8 November, which featured two stoppage-time goals. Both clubs' managers and players faced concentrated abuse afterward. Chelsea's 1-1 draw at Arsenal the same day triggered 97 verified abusive messages, over half targeting Bompastor.
Signify's CEO Jonathan Hirshler emphasized the severity of the problem, stating that while platforms prioritize free speech, some content-such as explicit death threats-demands immediate action. He argued that even free speech advocates would recognize the need for intervention in such cases.
