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'Abuse has been normalised' Devastating impact of online hate laid bare by Kick It Out
The Guardian
|May 16, 2025
Devastating impact of online hate laid bare by Kick It Out
The amount of "vile" online abuse directed at people in sport is getting worse and is having a "devastating impact" on their lives, livelihoods and families, a new report by Ofcom and Kick It Out has found.
One anonymous respondent said they had even barricaded themselves inside their house for a week for fear of who they might meet outside, while others spoke of the damage done by threats made to themselves or their families. They included Azeem Rafiq, who told the report that nothing could prepare him for the abuse he received after speaking out about racism at Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
This story is from the May 16, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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