Compiled by Dylan Bettencourt
- Bafana Bafana players faced a massive wave of online abuse after losing their opening World Cup match to Mexico.
- Fifa’s social media protection service said this hate is the worst they have ever seen since the tournament started.
Bafana Bafana players faced a massive wave of online abuse at the World Cup. Fifa’s social media protection service said this hate is the worst they have ever seen since the tournament started.
The team are hurting after losing their opening match 2-0 to Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on 11 June. The South African Football Association (Safa) are appealing a three match ban for Themba Zwane after a bad VAR decision.
Anti immigrant politics in South Africa poured petrol on the fire. A vigilante group called March and March told undocumented immigrants to leave by 30 June. Their marches showed signs of violence, forcing President Cyril Ramaphosa to share plans to fix loose borders.
Because of this, many Africans hate watching the team. Captain Ronwen Williams faces heavy abuse from both South Africans and foreigners.
Newspapers even published a fake quote claiming Williams almost cried because Africans supported Mexico. Williams shut down the fake story and said the lies hurt deeply.
“People targeted me over the last few days for things I never said,” Williams said, News24 reported.
Politics also hurt the team in 2019 when Madagascar and Zambia refused to play friendlies after xenophobic attacks.
Now the players face attack again. The team is in Atlanta to play Czechia on Thursday in what could decide who goes to the next stage.
Coach Hugo Broos told the players to block out the noise and stick together. Williams said they will only listen to their coach.
Pictured above: Ronwen Williams.
Image source: @BafanaBafana
