• The FIA’s United Against Online Abuse campaign will host its second global conference in Stockholm, Sweden on 9th September 2025 
• Key speakers will include representatives from The FA, ARISF, Sportradar and F1 Presenter Natalie Pinkham, highlighting the importance of protecting athletes, officials, volunteers, and fans from digital harm 

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has announced today that its flagship campaign, United Against Online Abuse (UAOA), will host its second global conference this September in Stockholm, Sweden. The event will bring together leading voices from the worlds of sport, politics, and social media to reaffirm their collective commitment to combatting online abuse. 

High-profile attendees will join forces to advance UAOA’s mission of eradicating online hate and creating a safer digital environment for all. These include representatives from The Football Association (FA), F1 Presenter Natalie Pinkham, Sportradar, Arwen.AI and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations (ARISF), which represents millions of athletes. 

Launched in 2023 by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem and supported by the FIA Foundation, the UAOA campaign seeks to drive both regulatory and behavioural change in response to the growing threat of online harassment. In the last two years, UAOA has released groundbreaking research, spearheaded global awareness campaigns, and brought together key stakeholders to promote respectful and inclusive digital spaces. 

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President and Founder of UAOA, said: “Online abuse is a growing threat to the integrity of sport and the wellbeing of all who take part in it, from athletes and officials to fans and volunteers. Through the United Against Online Abuse campaign, we are taking collective action to push for real, lasting change. 

“This September’s global conference in Stockholm will be a vital moment to bring together experts, leaders and platforms to turn words into action. I am proud to see this coalition gaining strength, and I urge everyone, from policymakers and global governments to tech companies and social platforms, to join us in building a safer, more respectful digital world.” 

Anna Nordkvist, FIA Vice President for Sport – Europe and CEO of the Swedish Automobile Sports Federation, said: “I am proud to be hosting this key event in Stockholm, it is an initiative that reflects our strong national belief in the importance of protecting people and providing safe communities. Online abuse has no borders, and tackling it requires global cooperation and local actions. 

“By bringing this international conversation to Sweden, we hope to foster stronger alliances, share knowledge, and inspire practical solutions.” 

Valerio Iachizzi, FIA Secretary General for Sport, said: “The power of motorsport lies in its people, from the drivers competing at every level, to the Officials and Volunteers who make every race possible. No one should face abuse for doing their job or pursuing their passion and the United Against Online Abuse campaign is about protecting these individuals and safeguarding the values of respect, fairness, and inclusion that define our sport. 

“The upcoming conference will be an important opportunity to strengthen our shared commitment and ensure our community leads by example when tackling online hate.” 

This conference is a significant milestone for the UAOA campaign, firmly establishing it as the leading global coalition against online abuse in sport, bringing together sports federations, national governments, regulatory bodies, and technology platforms. To date, the UAOA coalition has welcomed endorsements from the Governments of Greece, France, Slovenia, Albania, Australia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Namibia, Georgia and Rwanda, alongside sport federations and organisations such as FIM, ARISF, IFAF, the International Esports Federation, ASETEK SimSports, Peace and Sport Monaco, UNESCO, the Council of Europe, Clark Hill LLP, Arwen.AI and DCU University. 

FIA UNIVERSITY STRENGTHENS SUSTAINABILITY EXPERTISE WITH APPOINTMENT OF DR MADELEINE ORR

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, has today announced the appointment of Dr. Madeleine Orr as Visiting Professor at FIA University.
A globally recognised academic working at the intersection of sport and climate change, Dr. Orr joins the FIA as Visiting Professor, bolstering the Federation’s expertise in the field of environmental sustainability and furthering the FIA’s commitment to improve sustainable practices across motor sport and mobility.

Dr. Orr brings deep interdisciplinary expertise, with a PhD in Kinesiology (emphasis in Sport Management), Master’s degrees in both Natural Resource Science and International Event Management, and a strong record of published research and industry engagement. She has been recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30, Corporate Knights, and other international organisations for her contributions to sustainability and sport. Her recently published book, WARMING UP, examines how climate change is impacting sport, and how the sports world can fight back.

This appointment reflects the FIA’s commitment to drive innovation and data-led thought leadership in sustainability, not only within sport but also across the wider automotive industry. Dr. Orr’s role will support the development of high-impact research, cross-sector collaboration, and academic excellence at the FIA, benefiting both arms of its global mission.

As Visiting Professor, Dr. Orr’s responsibilities include conducting scholarly research, contributing to curriculum development, mentoring students, advising on research methodologies and representing the FIA University in academic and industry events. Two initial projects she is working on are focused on the climate impact to the World Rally Championship, and examining how to reduce emissions related to race calendars. Her work will not only enhance the FIA’s sustainability expertise but also reinforce the FIA University as a global hub for thought leadership.

The FIA University is the global leader in the accreditation, education and research of world motorsport and mobility. Its cutting-edge research informs public policy and strategy across sport and automotive industries, and serves as a vital resource for FIA Member Clubs around the world. It is supported by the FIA Foundation, the independent charitable arm of the FIA.

In 2024, over 250 participants, including Race Directors, Stewards and senior executives, graduated in specialist training programmes spanning sport governance through to advanced leadership. The University also sponsors six scholarship places for research in online abuse in sport at Dublin City University, as part the FIA’s flagship United Against

Online Abuse campaign which was awarded £400,000 by the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme from 2025-2027.

President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President at the FIA, said: “Improving sustainable practices across sport and mobility is an absolute priority for all of us at the FIA. Dr. Orr’s appointment strengthens the Federation’s expertise and leadership in this field, elevates the FIA University’s capabilities, and enables us to build on progress to date. I am excited to work with Dr. Orr to push the boundaries of what we can achieve.”

Dr. Madeleine Orr commented: “I’m honoured to join FIA University as a Visiting Professor. Sport is not only a powerful platform for entertainment—it’s a cultural force that can drive innovative solutions for complex challenges, including climate change. I look forward to advancing the FIA’s leadership in sustainability through research, education, and meaningful collaboration across sport and mobility.”

Willem Groenewald, FIA Secretary General for Mobility and Sustainability, said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr. Madeleine Orr to FIA University as Visiting Professor. Her data-led approach and specialist expertise in climate action will drive sustainable progress across motor sport and the wider automotive ecosystem.”

To combat online hate speech, research is crucial to measure its prevalence and understand its causes and effects. International Sports Federations (ISFs) play a key role in athlete development and protection, including anti-doping and safeguarding athletes from abuse. There are over 300 ISFs globally, representing various sports.

This report examines the extent to which ISFs conduct and report primary research on hate speech in their sports. After searching 206 ISF websites and emailing 196 ISFs, we found only six English-language research reports published by ISFs. An additional six related research reports were identified. This Briefing Note provides an overview of these 12 reports.

Explore our findings and insights by downloading the full document.

This report reviews 68 peer-reviewed scholarly articles on online hate speech in sports, published between January 1, 2000, and October 18, 2023. Key findings include:

• Rapid increase in research on the topic in the last two years.
• Focus primarily on regions such as the USA (24%), UK (22%), and Australia (6%).
• Main sports studied include soccer, American football, basketball, and Australian rules football.
• Primary platforms studied: Twitter (41%), Facebook (19%), and Instagram (12%).
• Most researched types of hate: racism (37%), misogyny (24%), and homophobia (15%).
• Athletes are the main targets of online hate, with fans being the primary perpetrators.
• Predominant use of secondary data and qualitative methods in research.

This report not only highlights the major areas of concern but also identifies gaps in current research and offers recommendations for future studies. Download the full document to explore our findings and insights in detail.