Online Abuse and Safeguarding in Sport

Safeguarding in sport increasingly extends beyond physical spaces — yet online abuse remains poorly regulated and inconsistently addressed.

In this episode, we examine online abuse as a form of interpersonal violence in sport, exploring how digital environments have become inseparable from athletes’ professional, social, and psychological lives. The discussion unpacks what constitutes online abuse, from harassment and hate speech to doxing, public shaming, and technology-facilitated violence, and how these behaviours can result in real-world harm.

A central focus is the false divide between “online” and “offline” harm. The episode explores how constant exposure to hostile digital content affects athlete welfare, performance, mental health, and physical safety, and why the normalisation of abuse within sporting cultures poses long-term risks. It also examines gaps in existing legal and regulatory frameworks, highlighting the absence of a coherent international approach and the tension between safeguarding obligations and freedom of expression.

The conversation considers current responses — including reactive moderation tools and major event-based interventions — and questions whether these measures address root causes. Instead, it argues for proactive safeguarding strategies that explicitly include digital spaces within prevention, reporting, and accountability systems.

This episode features Emma Kavanagh, sport psychologist and researcher specialising in interpersonal violence and online abuse in sport, and Kim Barker, legal scholar and expert on online violence and digital regulation.

The episode was recorded in August 2025.

Further readings recommended by the guest in this episode:

• Sinclair, G., & Lynn, T., (eds) The Game Beyond the Screen: A Primer on Online Abuse in Sports. (Springer, 2026).

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Trigger warning - This podcast includes references to interpersonal violence, including personal accounts of abuse, harassment, and harm experienced by children and adults. Some listeners may find this distressing. Please take care while listening, pause or step away if needed, and consider accessing appropriate support if these topics affect you.

Credits

• Ideation and hosting: SCORE Sport Think Tank
• Sound, music, and post-production: Ryan Lobigs
• Visual identity: Natalia Plaza Sánchez

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