The programme is being implemented by the Football Association, the UK Football Police Unit and Ofcom
A new pilot is being launched ahead of the FIFA World Cup to monitor, remove, investigate and prosecute online hate aimed at England players and their families.
The programme is being implemented by The Football Association [The FA], the UK Football Police Unit [UKFPU] and Ofcom as part of the new partnership to collectively fight against online abuse in football, which was announced in February 2026.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup, we will be working with a leading online technology agency to identify and detect online posts containing violent, threatening, abusive and discriminatory behaviour aimed at players and their families, which will then be immediately reported to the UKFPU. Incidents will also be escalated to social media platforms, with requests for abusive content to be immediately removed from their sites.
Ofcom will also receive analysis of how social media providers have responded to requests for removal of abusive posts. Ofcom will use this information to inform its compliance and policy work, which includes scrutinising the systems that social media platforms have in place to deal with illegal content.
The UKFPU will be providing bespoke support during the tournament, with dedicated Digital Media Investigators and Crown Prosecution Service [CPS] lawyers immediately reviewing illegal content to ensure evidence is quickly captured and taken for prosecution where appropriate.
Prosecutions have previously resulted in custodial sentences, fines and Football Banning Orders for perpetrators.
The UKFPU, The FA, Premier League, EFL, WSL Football, Professional Footballers’ Association, PGMOL, LMA, Kick It Out and Ofcom are part of a new working group formed earlier this year to share insights and intelligence about the online hate and abuse faced by people working in professional football.
The data from this pilot will be reviewed after the tournament to inform the working group’s next steps and to identify opportunities to improve processes for the regular football season and future tournaments.