Belgian football launches campaign against online hate speech

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA), the Pro League, ACFF and Voetbal Vlaanderen are fighting discrimination and racism in Belgian football with the Come Together action plan. However, hate speech does not stop on the sidelines, but increasingly continues online. This is why the Pro League and RBFA are launching several awareness-raising videos, in which Toby Alderweireld and Eleven DAZN face Séverine Parlakou, among others, share their stories.

"I understand that people can be angry when their favourite club loses, that they send something via social media. But there are limits. Threatening someone goes too far, and we cannot accept it. Perpetrators must realise that they can be sanctioned, they must not feel that they are safe behind their computers. You are allowed to be upset, to be angry, even to have hatred for someone. But keep that to yourself!"

– Toby Alderweireld 

Fight against online hate speech

Today, RBFA, the Pro League, Voetbal Vlaanderen and ACFF are organising their Because We Care conference for the third time, to exchange ideas and action plans on social and environmental issues. As per annual custom, that conference - attended by club officials and partners - kicked off the campaign against racism and discrimination in football.

In co-production with Eleven DAZN, a video is also launched today in which journalist Séverine Parlakou, Standard Fémina player Mariam Toloba, Royal Antwerp FC coach Faris Haroun and referee Bram Van Driessche speak out against the growing phenomenon of online hate messages. This results in a confronting video that will be seen online and on television in the coming weeks. The message is clear: online hate hurts, and we as a compassionate football family do not want to accept that. ​

In addition, the well-known campaign with the tattoos will be unleashed on the world once again. Last year, the focus was on the most frequently reported forms of discrimination: racism, homophobia, and sexism. Following, among other things, the messages Toby Alderweireld received via social media after last season's title match, the campaign is being extended to the fight against online hate speech.

In the campaign video, Toby Alderweireld talks about how he experienced the hate messages. And as with the other victims, the tattoo on Toby's face symbolises that he is scarred by what has happened to him.

Mélissa Onana will also be speaking at the Because We Care conference. The sister of Red Devil Amadou Onana tells how she has faced racism and discrimination for years, including online. Also testifying are referees Bram Van Driessche and Marco Matonga Simonini. They tell how hate speech haunts them via social media, long after matches have ended. These courageous testimonies make RBFA's campaign timely and topical.

With the extensive campaign, the Belgian football family denounces hate speech, and aims to raise awareness around the issue. But it does not stop there, as steps are also being taken on the repressive front. In collaboration with the FPS Home Affairs and the police, Belgian football is shifting up a gear. On the website cometogether.be, victims are informed on how to adjust their social media settings to counter hate speech. It also explains how victims can report hate speech to the police.

RBFA is also taking a stand against hate messages on its social media channels. Thanks to a test version of an online tool from FIFA, all hate comments are automatically deleted on the RBFA's various Instagram, Facebook and Youtube channels. Since the launch of the tool in August 2023, some 1,200 comments related to hate speech, racism and discrimination have been removed. In the future, the RBFA plans to make this tool available to the Red Devils and Red Flames.

The Belgian football family - as part of the Come Together action plan - is continuing to take initiatives to ban racism, discrimination and hate speech. And that approach seems to be working. In 2021, the RBFA, in cooperation with the Pro League, Voetbal Vlaanderen and the ACFF, launched a hotline for facts of discrimination and racism. In the 2022-2023 football season, 452 people found their way to that hotline. In 2021-2022, there were 372. ​

Launch Safe Together action plan 

In addition to the Come Together action plan, RBFA is also working on the Safe Together action plan. The aim of this action plan is to create a safe football environment for minors and vulnerable people. More specifically, it should help players, board members, supporters and parents detect signs of sexual, emotional, and physical violence, and bullying and neglect in underage and vulnerable footballers. ​

The RBFA is therefore launching a hotline - similar to the Come Together hotline - for any football fan who suspects cross-border behaviour. That sports clubs are a third home - after home and school - for many young people and can play an important role in ensuring their well-being, the story of Red Lion Victor Wegnez proves. He gave a courageous testimony at the Because We Care conference about how hockey enabled him to stay away from an abusive stepfather. He indicates that it is important for adults in a club environment to be made aware that some children sometimes have a hard time behind the scenes.