Sports Organisations’ Responses to Social Media Abuse Against Professional Sportswomen in UK Team Sports

While the popularity and growth of women’s professional sport have increased alongside recent advances in its professionalisation, online abuse has also risen. This is particularly evident in traditionally masculine sports such as rugby, cricket, and football. This study provides a novel insight into how UK football, rugby, and cricket organisations address the social media abuse faced by female athletes online, through a critical discourse analysis of 52 policies from sports clubs, governing bodies, and organisations. Using Foucault’s (1982) Governmentality framework, we demonstrate that the dominant discourses in policies are centred on Control, Power, and Responsibility. We conclude that female athletes do not receive adequate, tailored protection from online abuse. Current strategies to safeguard athlete welfare are outdated in the online space, and disparities exist across clubs and sports. The reliance on widespread campaigns is criticised, and recommendations are proposed for future research.