Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the governing body for world motor sport and the federation for mobility organisations globally, hosted a landmark seminar this month, attended by over 100 FIA members and partners.
The online event provided a platform for the FIA’s United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) Research Scholars to share progress on their innovative projects which are generating critical new insights into underexplored aspects of online abuse in sport.
South African Roshni Gajjar was selected last year as one of the first four international recipients of the prestigious Global Research Scholarship, awarded by the FIA in support of its United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) campaign.
Described by FIA President and UAOA Founder Mohammed Ben Sulayem as “showcasing the very best of the FIA,” the scholarship programme, funded by the FIA Foundation and delivered in collaboration with Dublin City University, features four areas of online abuse research.
“Each scholar is addressing distinct and urgent challenges in the online abuse landscape, contributing valuable data and perspectives to shape global policy and practice,” he said.
During the seminar the four scholars presented compelling updates on their research, which spans gender, governance, education and culture within the context of online abuse:
- Roshni Gajjar (South Africa) is studying strategic rationale and governance principles that support the combat of online abuse by federations across selected sports, including motorsport.
- Kimberley Wyllie (Scotland) is exploring the impact of sexism and misogyny in motorsport fan communities, focusing on how such behaviours affect social identities and experiences
of female fans. - Maria Luliano (Italy) is examining the nature, patterns and social implications of online abuse in Italian football, drawing attention to cultural and systemic factors that fuel hostility.
- Ana Rodriguez Armendariz (Mexico) is assessing the role of educational initiatives in sport as preventative measures, focusing on how awareness and training can be mobilised to reduce harm.
Commenting on her research, Gajjar said, “My end-goal is to present evidence-based principles that support the systemic combat of online harms, a complex and textured emerging issue in sport.
“This requires intensive and intentional research to identify and understand the contributing factors, the exposure and to consider potential success factors for effective mitigation, so sport continues to fuel potential and passion in a healthy, inspiring and enjoyable way.
“I urge sports federation leaders not to wait for published research but to apply due care and put online abuse higher on the agenda.”
Each course is accredited through a Masters By Research at Dublin City University. The UAOA campaign is committed to translating this research into real-world solutions, working with a broad international coalition of governments, sport organisations, and technology platforms.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, UAOA Founder and FIA President says, “I’m pleased the FIA has united to celebrate this powerful scholarship programme and to learn more about these insightful research topics. By supporting this initiative, the FIA is not only addressing root causes of online abuse in sport but equipping itself with the tools and strategies needed to combat it effectively.”
Motorsport South Africa (MSA) is one of 243 FIA Member Clubs and offered Gajjar its full support on the contribution her research offers to mitigate online abuse, particularly as South Africa offers perspectives from the “Global South.
MSA Chairman and FIA Senate member, Anton Roux, said, “Marshals and officials of sport need to be applauded rather than subjected to any kind of hate speech on social channels, so the FIA’s initiative is to be applauded.
“The research enables us to build a greater understanding of the psychological effects of online abuse and inform our strategic approach to tackling the problem in future and protecting participants from this kind of abuse.”
PREPARED ON BEHALF OF MSA BY CATHY FINDLEY PR