England Captain Itoje Warns Athletes About Harmful Social Media After Player Abuse

England captain Maro Itoje is warning athletes about social media after players like Edwin Edogbo and Vinicius Jr. faced racist abuse. He says social media is 'corrosive' and can harm mental health.
By Newsroom | Sport, UK |

Maro Itoje, captain of the England rugby team, has voiced strong condemnation of racist abuse directed at players, specifically mentioning Ireland's Edwin Edogbo and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. Itoje highlighted the damaging impact of such abuse, particularly through social media, and urged athletes to limit their exposure to these platforms due to their "corrosive" nature. His statements come amidst ongoing concerns about racism in sports and society.

Context of the Abuse and Itoje's Response

Edwin Edogbo, an Ireland rugby player of Nigerian descent, faced online racist attacks following his appearance in a recent Six Nations match against Italy. Similarly, Vinicius Jr., a prominent player for Real Madrid, has been a repeated target of racist abuse during football matches in Spain.

Itoje condemns racist abuse suffered by Edogbo and Vinicius Jr - 1

  • Edwin Edogbo: Targeted online after coming off the bench in Ireland's Six Nations victory over Italy on Saturday.

  • Vinicius Jr.: Has experienced repeated racist incidents during football games. This has led to legal action and convictions against some individuals.

  • Maro Itoje: Himself of Nigerian descent, Itoje has previously spoken about his own experiences with racist abuse during his rugby career.

Itoje's comments were made ahead of a significant Six Nations game between England and Ireland, underscoring the continued presence of racism in professional sports.

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Social Media's "Corrosive" Influence

Itoje expressed deep concern over the role of social media in amplifying negativity and its harmful effects on athletes and society.

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"Social media has been a force for good in many ways, but it's been a force for negativity in a lot of other ways."

He specifically advised top-level athletes to minimize their time on social media.

  • The platforms are seen as "corrosive" due to the negativity they host.

  • Itoje suggested that prolonged exposure can negatively impact mental well-being and even "our brains."

  • He anticipates significant damage to individuals and society over the coming years due to social media's influence on brain development.

Cases of Racist Abuse

Recent events highlight the persistent problem of racism faced by athletes.

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  • Edwin Edogbo: Experienced racist abuse online after playing for Ireland against Italy. The exact nature of the online abuse Edogbo suffered is not detailed in the provided reports, but it is framed as being related to his background.

  • Vinicius Jr.: Has been subjected to numerous racist incidents. In one instance, three Valencia fans were sentenced to eight months in prison for abusing him, marking a notable criminal conviction for racist insults in a Spanish football stadium. La Liga has also filed complaints about alleged racist chanting directed at Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe.

"While the stuff we’re seeing – whether it’s Vinícius Júnior or Edwin Edogbo – is terribly sad and we as a community need to keep on stamping this type of thing out."

Previous Experiences of Abuse

Itoje himself has acknowledged experiencing racist abuse during his playing career, indicating that this is not a new issue within the sport.

  • In April 2023, Itoje revealed he had had "a few experiences" of racist abuse.

  • His comments followed a report by the RFU (Rugby Football Union) that found racism at "every level of the game."

  • He supported the RFU report as a "watershed moment" for addressing racism in rugby.

"We need to try to eradicate this from our sport, our game, and our lives."

Actions Taken and Player Responses

Efforts are being made to combat racism, though challenges remain.

Itoje condemns racist abuse suffered by Edogbo and Vinicius Jr - 4

  • Vinicius Jr.: Has been vocal about his experiences and stated that he and his Real Madrid teammates would walk off the pitch in response to racist abuse. He also views himself as a "tormentor of racists" following the conviction of his abusers.

  • Legal Consequences: In Spain, legal action has resulted in convictions for individuals involved in racist abuse against Vinicius Jr.

  • Community Response: Itoje emphasizes the need for the sports community to continually work towards eliminating such behavior.

Expert Analysis

The provided reports do not contain analysis from independent experts. The insights offered are primarily from Maro Itoje himself.

Conclusion and Implications

Maro Itoje's public statements underscore the ongoing and damaging impact of racist abuse on athletes. His focus on the "corrosive" nature of social media suggests a need for greater platform accountability and a re-evaluation of how athletes engage with online spaces. The parallel instances of abuse against Edogbo and Vinicius Jr., alongside Itoje's own past experiences, paint a clear picture of a persistent problem across different sports and platforms. The legal action taken in Vinicius Jr.'s case indicates a move towards tangible consequences for perpetrators, but the widespread nature of the abuse suggests that these measures, alongside community efforts to "stamp this type of thing out," are still in their early stages of effectiveness. The damage cited by Itoje regarding social media's impact on mental well-being and brain development points to broader societal concerns that extend beyond the realm of professional sports.

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Sources Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did England captain Maro Itoje speak out about racist abuse?
Maro Itoje spoke out against racist abuse targeting athletes like Ireland's Edwin Edogbo and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. He highlighted the damaging effects, especially from social media, and urged athletes to limit their exposure.
Q: What happened to Edwin Edogbo and Vinicius Jr. that caused Itoje's comments?
Edwin Edogbo faced online racist attacks after a recent rugby match, and Vinicius Jr. has been a repeated target of racist abuse during football games. These incidents led Itoje to share his concerns.
Q: What did Maro Itoje say about social media?
Itoje described social media as 'corrosive' and a source of negativity. He advised top athletes to reduce their time on these platforms, believing prolonged exposure can harm mental well-being and brain development.
Q: Have other athletes, including Itoje himself, experienced racist abuse?
Yes, Vinicius Jr. has faced many racist incidents, leading to legal action and convictions. Maro Itoje also revealed in April 2023 that he has experienced racist abuse during his own rugby career.
Q: What actions are being taken against racist abuse in sports?
In Spain, three fans were sentenced to prison for racially abusing Vinicius Jr., marking a criminal conviction. La Liga also files complaints about racist chanting. Itoje stressed the need for the sports community to work together to stop such behavior.