FIFA expands anti-abuse push at Atlanta forum

FIFA has brought together players, policymakers, technology executives and community leaders in Atlanta to identify practical measures against hate speech, with the governing body positioning online protection as a core part of its FIFA World Cup 2026 operations.The event, staged with TikTok and the City of Atlanta at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, took place ahead of Czechia’s match against South Africa and marked the International Day for Countering Hate Speech.Former FIFA World Player of the Year George Weah said: “Football is not just a game of chance, it’s a game of unity.“There are a lot of elements which want to destroy the game. Football is a game of peace, a game of unity. What we are trying to do here, with FIFA and [FIFA President] Gianni Infantino, we are doing at the right time.”The discussion focused on how abuse is evolving across digital platforms and physical environments, which interventions are proving effective and how institutions can convert public commitments into measurable results.Participants included former Nigeria international Mercy Akide, Atlanta chief impact officer Candace Stanciel, TikTok global public policy executive Eric Ebenstein and US Soccer-certified referee and mentor David Gerson.FIFA used the gathering to highlight its Social Media Protection Service, which monitors abuse directed at players, teams and officials during its tournaments.The system has reviewed more than 250 million comments and posts since its introduction, with over 30 million identified as harmful.During the FIFA World Cup 2026, the service reviewed more than 3.8 million posts and comments between the tournament’s June 11 opening and the Atlanta event. FIFA said 388,000 harmful items had been removed.That total has already exceeded the 287,000 posts and comments removed across the entire FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.Stanciel said: “I think the panel really gave us an opportunity to think about where the challenges are, what we’re doing that really works, and what kind of commitments we can make.“Whether you’re a player, whether you’re a ref, whether you’re a city government hosting a tournament, or anybody who’s engaged in wanting sport to be better. With an international experience like FIFA, we get to really talk about human rights.”The forum also supported FIFA’s Global Stand Against Racism, which combines grassroots education, fan engagement and local resources for member associations.Each panellist concluded the event by committing to specific local actions, extending the initiative beyond tournament messaging and towards implementation by football, government and technology stakeholders.