From Cheers to Threats
By
Christine Rose Sebastian
FY B.Sc.
source: https://pin.it/4th1JgFnO
Sports have an undeniable magic. They bring people together, young and old, across cultures and backgrounds. Whether it’s children playing in the park, parents teaching their kids how to throw a ball, families cheering on their team, or friends bonding over shared victories and losses while wearing the jerseys of the team they are supporting, the camaraderie and shared experience are truly special. However, this beautiful passion can sometimes take a disturbing turn, manifesting as unacceptable and harmful behaviour towards innocent individuals.
One particularly troubling trend is the rise of online abuse directed at the families of athletes, especially their wives and partners. Often fueled by the disappointment of a loss, these attacks range from hurtful insults to deeply misogynistic and even threatening remarks.
When India lost the ICC Cricket World Cup final to Australia, it was a heartbreaking moment for many fans. Australia played a fantastic game, and they deserved the win. Accepting defeat gracefully is a part of being a true sports fan. However, many “fans” failed to accept defeat gracefully and what happened next was unacceptable. Many of these fans, acting completely lunatic and disrespectful, went on to send abusive messages to Vini Raman and Jessica Head, the wives of Australian players Glen Maxwell and Travis Head.
Vini Raman, wife of Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell, was bombarded with hateful messages simply for supporting her husband’s team despite being of Indian origin. But of course, Vini Raman came back at these trolls with a fitting reply, “… and cue all the hateful vile DMs. Stay classy. Can’t believe this needs to be said BUT you can be Indian and also support the country of your birth where you have been raised and more importantly the team your husband plus the father of your child plays in #nobrainer. Take a chill pill and direct that outrage towards more important world issues”
Similarly, Anushka Sharma (wife of Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli) has been subjected to online abuse and even threats towards her young daughter, highlighting the disturbing depths of this issue. The behaviour of these “fans” often conveniently shifts depending on Virat Kohli’s performance. When he’s winning, she’s the perfect wife, but when the team loses, she’s suddenly blamed and even termed as “panauti”. It must also be noted that the misogyny here is so deep-rooted that these same “fans” will not waste a single second before blaming Anushka for Virat’s losses, but when Anushka’s films don’t do very well at the box office, will they blame Virat? Will they blame him for distracting her or being a bad husband? This double standard is not only unfair but also highlights the disturbing reality of online harassment in the sports world. The couple have also faced horrific and vile abuse towards their young child. For instance, in 2021, When Virat Kohli stood up for his teammate against the abuse he was receiving, these trolls sent rape threats to his daughter Vamika, who was only 10 months old at the time. Read that again, rape threats. Towards a 10-month-old.
Unfortunately, this isn’t just an isolated incident in the sports world. Studies have shown a concerning correlation between sporting events and increased domestic violence. Factors like alcohol and gambling can exacerbate these tendencies, creating a dangerous mix of frustration and aggression that spills over into harmful behaviour. During the last to last World Cup cases of domestic violence including alcohol saw a 47% rise on days when England won and 18% on days after England’s match. There was also another study carried out back in 2014 by academics at Lancaster University who looked at the number of reports of abuse to a police force in the north-west of England during three football World Cups. They found that such reports increased by 26% when the national team won or drew, and by 38% when the team lost
It’s crucial to remember that sports, at their core, are about entertainment and healthy competition. While emotions naturally run high during matches, there’s never an excuse for directing negativity and abuse towards anyone, especially those who have no bearing on the outcome of the game. Let’s remember the true spirit of sportsmanship: respect, camaraderie, and the shared love for the game.