Ofcom and Police Partner to Tackle Online Football Abuse

Ofcom News Centre

Published February 17th, 2026

Detected February 17th, 2026

Summary

Ofcom and the UK Football Police Unit have partnered to tackle online abuse in English football. This new working group will share intelligence to inform preventative and investigatory actions, including Ofcom's policy work under the Online Safety Act.

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What changed

Ofcom, in collaboration with the UK Football Police Unit and various English football bodies, has established a new working group to combat online hate and abuse targeting individuals in professional football. This partnership aims to streamline the sharing of insights and intelligence, supporting both preventative measures and investigations. The initiative will inform Ofcom's policy development, particularly concerning the implementation of user empowerment rules under the Online Safety Act, and will also consider criminal investigations led by the Football Policing Unit.

This development signifies a coordinated effort to enhance the safety of those involved in football, both online and offline. Regulated entities, particularly online platforms, should be aware that this collaboration will likely lead to increased scrutiny and enforcement related to illegal content and abusive behaviour. While specific deadlines are not mentioned, the partnership's focus on the Online Safety Act implies that platforms must continue to assess and mitigate risks associated with illegal content, with Ofcom overseeing compliance. The collaboration also highlights the intersection of regulatory action, law enforcement, and educational initiatives in addressing online harms.

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English Football, Ofcom and Police join forces to tackle online abuse

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Online safety Online abuse News and updates News Published:
17 February 2026 A new partnership between English Football, the UK Football Police Unit and Ofcom will streamline collaboration in their collective fight against online abuse in football.

The UK Football Policing Unit, Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, WSL Football, Professional Footballers' Association, Kick It Out and Ofcom have formed a new working group to share insights and intelligence about the online hate and abuse faced by people working in professional football. [1]

Football united against hate and abuse

English football bodies have been working together for several years in partnership with UK Football Police Unit to tackle this ongoing issue, and already monitor their leagues and competitions for abusive online content, with each case being reviewed and reported to the relevant social media company to take action. Serious incidents are then investigated by the relevant authorities and legal proceedings are taken where appropriate.

This monitoring of the Leagues’ and international competitions, such as the UEFA European Women’s Championship in 2025, has seen thousands of posts flagged, hidden or removed; with illegal posts being taken forward for prosecution.

Whilst English football already provides personal support to players, coaches, referees and other participants affected, the football bodies will be looking to see if further help and protection can be given to those affected.

Strength in depth

The new partnership will ensure that information and analysis is shared about the online abuse of people who play, watch or work in football, to support a range of preventative and investigatory action. This will include consideration of criminal investigations and informing Ofcom’s policy work, including implementing the user empowerment rules for platforms, under the Online Safety Act.

Creating a safer life online is a complex challenge and requires a collective effort involving many organisations. It is important that regulation of tech companies continues to happen alongside education initiatives and law enforcement action against individuals who commit hate crimes online. [2]

Notes to editors:

The Online Hate in Professional Football Working Group met for the first time on Friday 6 February 2026. It will usually meet bi-monthly, although meetings may take place more frequently, or earlier or later than planned, depending on the timing of critical decision points for each organisation.
Some of the online abuse people experience is illegal under UK law, such as some types of threatening or abusive behaviour and harassment. Under the Online Safety Act, platforms must assess and mitigate the risk of UK users seeing illegal content, and Ofcom’s job is to make sure tech firms comply with these duties. The Football Policing Unit leads assessment and investigation of individuals for criminal offences. Some of the abuse people experience online is not illegal under UK laws. In due course, some platforms will be subject to additional duties under the Online Safety Act, such as offering user empowerment features that help people manage the content they see.