Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor says more needs to be done to protect players and managers from online abuse

Sonia Bompastor has made a mark since she joined the Women’s Super League (WSL) last year as the new Chelsea manager. She led the team through its first unbeaten season, winning three trophies in the process. But despite her success, her time in the WSL has come with its challenges – and specifically, the onslaught of online abuse.

A new BBC investigation has shed light on just how severe that abuse can get. On the weekend of Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at the start of November, there were 97 abusive messages posted about WSL matches – and half of those were directed at Bompastor. Among the messages were a threat of violence and a homophobic slur.

Speaking about the abuse, Bompastor, who has four children with her partner and assistant Chelsea manager Camille Abily, said she wanted to raise awareness of the kinds of messages she was receiving to highlight the unique challenges WSL players and managers face.

“People think they can say anything they want from behind a screen,” she told the BBC. “It’s scary – I want to raise my voice against that. I have a family, including kids. They don’t want to see those comments online. They are so young, and people need to realise the effect it can have on them too.” 

She continued: “Threats are a big problem, because the security in the women’s game isn’t the same as the men’s game. Abuse can cause real mental problems for players. It can go really far.”

It’s no secret that online abuse towards athletes and sporting personalities – both male and female – is rife. But as Bompastor rightly highlights, the lower level of security in women’s football in general does make abuse – especially threats of violence – even more terrifying.

“The social media companies are not doing their job, not taking the responsibility or accountability,” Bompastor said. “If we have to wait for them to act, I think we will be in this situation for too long. I’m hoping now that all clubs in the women’s and men’s games are proactive and protect people as much as possible.”

Bompastor isn’t the only one to speak out about the online abuse directed at players and managers. Recently, Leicester City player Hannah Cain took to social media to speak about the abuse she’d been experiencing. “There is no room in life for any kind of abuse, hiding behind a keyboard every single week and targeting the same player regardless of underperforming, performing or over performing isn’t acceptable on any platform,” she wrote. 

“We would do so well to remember the long-lasting effects this torment can do to a person and their wellbeing. You never know what a person is going through. Enough is enough.”

During the Euros this summer, England defender Jess Carter also spoke out about being subjected to racist abuse online, eventually deciding to step away from social media during the tournament as a result.

And this isn’t an issue unique to football. Today UK Sport has signed a contract with Social Protect – an AI app designed to detect and hide abusive posts sent on social media – to help Team GB athletes protect their accounts throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games cycle up to 2028.

“The level of abuse our athletes are facing online is unacceptable – to do nothing about this is not an option”, Kate Baker, UK Sport’s director of performance, said about the deal. “This agreement sits right at the heart of our commitment to ensure athletes have the right support to be the best version of themselves on and off the field of play.” 

Football clubs now seem to be taking a similar approach; Arsenal have worked with Signify (another comment flagging app) for the past three years and, according to the BBC, a 90% drop in the number of affiliated fans sending abuse to their own players, coach and owners has been noted. Chelsea women are now working with the same company.

Image: Getty