Study urges action over online abuse of sportswomen
Stronger policies and clearer accountability to protect women athletes online are being called for following new academic research involving the University of Chester.
The study, led by academics from the universities of Chester, Hull, Durham, Manchester and Loughborough, examines misogynistic online abuse directed at women and girls in sport. It focuses on a high-profile case involving former footballer Joey Barton and his use of abusive language on social media.
Researchers analysed activity on the platform X across three separate time periods in which Barton posted comments targeting two female footballers and a female pundit, alongside the public response to those posts.
Up to around 6,500 public posts were examined in each period. The analysis focused on condemnation, criticism and accountability, as well as wider cultural patterns, including the symbolic use of emojis to convey violence.
The study found what it describes as a pervasive culture of misogyny and online violence against women in sport. Researchers say the abuse is amplified by social media platforms and shaped by the intersection of gender, race and online visibility.
Dr Alex Fenton, Associate Professor in Digital Transformation at the University of Chester, said the research exposed entrenched problems within online sports culture.
“This important research, conducted by the team and University of Chester students, shines a light on the toxic culture that persists in online sports communities,” he said.
“By examining high profile cases, we show how misogyny and misogynoir are amplified through social media, creating real-world harm for women and girls in sport. It’s time for platforms, policymakers, and sports organisations to take decisive action to make these spaces safer and more inclusive.”
Researchers say the findings underline the need for safer and more equitable online environments for women involved in sport, and that the evidence can support cultural change by policymakers, sporting bodies and social media companies.
Dr Wasim Ahmed, of the University of Hull, said stronger intervention was needed to prevent harm becoming normalised.
“Women and girls in sport deserve environments, both online and offline, where their achievements are celebrated,” he said.
“Our findings highlight an urgent need for stronger protections and platform-level responsibility. Without meaningful intervention, we risk normalising behaviour that has real and harmful consequences for those targeted.”
Dr Emma Kavanagh, of Loughborough University, said online abuse could no longer be treated as an inevitable part of modern sport.
“We must act now to protect the health and wellbeing of athletes as they navigate their careers in the era of online media,” she said.
“Online abuse can have profound and lasting effects, and it can no longer be normalised or accepted as part of modern sport.”
The research also considers the long-term impact on careers and participation in football culture.
Dr Maz Hardey, Professor of Business and Computing at Durham University, said the cost to victims remained high despite increasing legal consequences for perpetrators.
“This abuse has actively dismantled careers and forced women to withdraw from UK football culture entirely to ensure their own safety,” he said.
“Legal wins are crucial, but we must act faster to ensure women are not forced into professional exile just to survive the abuse.”
Dr Rosy Boardman, of the University of Manchester, said influential figures played a key role in shaping online behaviour.
“When individuals with large followings use their platforms to normalise misogyny or direct hostility toward women in sport, they don’t just express an opinion, they legitimise harmful narratives that would otherwise remain on the fringes,” she said.
The study, titled Misogyny, Misogynoir and Violent Online Rhetoric Against Women and Girls in Sport: The Case of Joey Barton, has been published in European Sport Management Quarterly.
Barton was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in November 2025 of six counts of sending grossly offensive electronic communications with intent to cause distress or anxiety. He was sentenced the following month to six months in custody, suspended for 18 months.
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