In the realm of football commentary, Gary Neville’s unfiltered candor has made him a household name. Yet, the onslaught of social media attacks he weathered in May surpassed anything he’d previously encountered. For Jill Scott, this disturbing experience was all too familiar.
A revered figure in English football, Scott, now a TV analyst, candidly stated, “It’s thrust into the limelight what occurs on social media solely because of your gender.” This revelation sprang from their participation in Heineken’s groundbreaking initiative, aptly named The Social Swap, where they switched accounts on X (formerly Twitter) to confront gender bias in soccer-related discussions online.
Through this eye-opening experiment, Neville gained firsthand insight into the prejudice faced by Scott and other women in the sport. He stressed that these critiques weren’t mere disagreements but blatant attempts to silence her based on her gender – a concern far graver than simple disagreement.
Scott and Neville took turns sharing their viewpoints on various facets of the sport while discreetly using each other’s accounts. This candid conversation with The Associated Press occurred ahead of the Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand from July 20 to August 20.
While the tournament brilliantly showcased the exponential growth and global appeal of women’s football, it was marred by an unsavory incident involving Luis Rubiales, who kissed player Jenni Hermoso without her consent during the trophy ceremony. Rubiales subsequently stepped down as the president of Spain’s soccer federation.
July saw the release of a survey by Women in Football, a network of professionals within the soccer industry, revealing that a staggering 82% of women in the field had faced workplace discrimination. Scott underscored that gender-based discrimination is alarmingly prevalent on social media for women in soccer. Throughout the experiment, her account received an alarming fivefold increase in sexist responses compared to Neville’s.
She shed light on the toll such comments exact on one’s daily life, touching on remarks about her appearance and attire. Scott also highlighted the additional challenges women face in terms of their appearance when appearing on television.
Scott, a pivotal member of England’s triumphant European Championship squad the previous year, candidly admitted that online abuse was not new to her as a player. She revealed that some of Sarina Wiegman’s players chose to abstain from social media to sidestep distractions ahead of the tournament.
Online abuse in football has evolved into such a rampant issue that FIFA, the sport’s governing body, launched a social media protection service ahead of last year’s men’s World Cup to combat hate speech and discrimination.
As part of Heineken’s trailblazing initiative, a collaboration with tech company Arwen has paved the way for select fans to access its AI-powered online moderation tool for free. This tool adeptly sieves negative content from social media feeds, fostering a more positive online environment.
In addition to the distressing prevalence of sexist comments, soccer players have also been subjected to reprehensible racial abuse online.
Neville noted, “In-stadium behavior has markedly improved in the Premier League. Hooliganism is on the decline. More families, men, women, and children are tuning in than ever before. However, the abuse has migrated to social media, away from stadiums. The issue persists, it has simply shifted.”
Despite the revelations of the swap, Scott perceives a shift in attitudes towards women in soccer. She ardently believes that more must be done to champion the women’s game.
“In certain instances, as women, we may inadvertently settle for less. It’s as if gratitude is expected. This is where our relentless pursuit of progress comes into play,” she asserted. “It’s not about women bearing the entirety of the load. It’s about providing equal opportunities. But we also require equitable support, as our journey and opportunities haven’t mirrored those of our male counterparts.”
