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Addressing the Noise: Safeguarding Concerns within Women’s Sport

03.03.26

“The bigger the game gets, the bigger the noise becomes” – Lucy Bronze[1]

The growing popularity of women’s sport has unfortunately brought with it an increase in discrimination and other safeguarding concerns. For example, Kick it Out, found that reports of sexism and misogyny rose by 67% during the 2024/2025 season, with sexist content online rising by 72%.[2] Further, in January 2026, Spark Team Communications released findings from a study into experiences of sexual misconduct by women working in UK elite sport (“the Report”). Sixteen forms of sexual misconduct were explored, ranging from jokes with sexual content to non-consensual touching, and rape.[3] Out of 260 respondents, 88% had been the target of at least one form of sexual misconduct behaviour while 87% had experienced at least one form of sexual harassment behaviour.[4] A further report conducted by Women In Sport and Leeds Beckett University into the experiences of female coaches found (amongst other things) that there were inadequate policies to tackle misogyny and protect women in coaching.[5] The statistics set out in these reports are alarming and demonstrate a real need for the sporting community to take steps to understand and address these issues.

CONCERNS ACROSS WOMEN’S SPORTS

Sadly, safeguarding concerns – whether arising from external online abuse or misconduct from within the organisation – can be found across various women’s sports. By way of example:

Football: In February 2025, Luis Rubiales (former President of the Royal Spanish Football Federation) was found guilty of sexual assault for kissing Spanish midfielder Jennifer Hermoso on the 2023 World Cup winner’s podium without her consent.[6] More recently, in January 2026, Ryan Hamilton (a former women’s football manager) was banned for 12 years by the FA for sending sexually explicit images of himself to players and a member of staff.[7]

Tennis: In February 2025, a match at the Dubai Tennis Championships had to be paused because a man who “exhibited fixated behaviour” had been watching Emma Raducanu, a British professional tennis player, courtside. He was swiftly removed, but Raducanu was visibly distressed.[8] Katie Boulter has previously explained the level of online abuse she receives as a professional women’s tennis player and that there have been times where she has been followed from tournaments.[9]

Rowing: In June 2025, Leander Club (which is said to have supplied more than half of Team GB’s rowers at the Paris Olympics) was accused of failing to properly investigate allegations of rape and harassment, including allegations of incidents where male rowers have raped female squad members.[10]

Athletics: Back in 2021 during Covid, a number of Welsh sprinters had to train outside rather than on athletics tracks. When doing so, they experienced, amongst other things, comments about their figures, wolf-whistling, and staring.[11] Indeed, concerns women have over harassment when out walking, cycling, running and exercising has been a matter raised recently in Parliament.[12]

RECENT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS

The Online Safety Act 2023 (“OSA”) came into force in October 2023 and imposed statutory duties on services (such as social medial platforms) to have adequate systems and processes to protect users. Unfortunately, however, it seems that these measures have not done enough to prevent the level of abuse targeted at women athletes. For example, in June 2025, Sport England’s Chair, Chris Boardman, wrote to Ofcom raising concerns regarding the online racist and sexist abuse that had been directed at members of the England Women’s football team. Although he referenced OSA, he asked what further steps could be taken within the current regulatory framework to tackle misogyny and racism online.

Legislative protections can also arise in certain contexts by virtue of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 and the Equality Act 2010 (“EqA 2010”). Section 26(2) EqA 2010, for example, prohibits sexual harassment (unwanted conduct of a sexual nature which had the purpose or effect of violating the individual’s dignity or created an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual).

Legislative changes have recently been brought in relation to EqA 2010. From October 2024, employers had a new positive duty to take “reasonable steps” to prevent sexual harassment at work.[13] By virtue of the Employment Rights Act 2025, the Government are seeking to introduce liability of employers for the failure to take “all reasonable steps” to prevent third party harassment of an employee in the course of their employment.[14] This could prove to be an important expansion of protection since one of the comments made in the Report was that the majority of sexually inappropriate conduct came from fans attending on match day and that this appeared to be culturally tolerated.[15] The introduction of these legislative duties will likely encourage sports organisations to make further risk assessments and implement appropriate measures to ensure they comply with their legal obligations.

PRACTICAL STEPS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES

There is evidently a need to address safeguarding issues and whilst legislative changes or developments will hopefully encourage this, further practical steps from those within the sports community is required. The following steps are examples of ways these issues could potentially be addressed:

1. External partnerships to actively confront abuse ahead of big competitions: Before the Women’s World Rugby Cup in 2025, World Rugby partnered with Signify Group in an attempt to combat online abuse. The service monitored social medial platforms to: (i) detect and report abusive posts and comments directed at players and match officials; and (ii) identify the sources of abuse so that real-word actions (such as fines and loss of access to matches) could be actioned.[16] This partnership model could be used in other sporting competitions.
2. Strong regulatory responses to breaches: In the Report, it is telling that only 38% of participants were positive about how governing bodies were addressing issues of sexual misconduct. This demonstrates that swift and strong responses to breaches are needed by regulators so that victims within women’s sport have faith in the system. In the case of Mr Hamilton (referred to above), the regulatory commission stated that: “Women’s football is prospering, and for it to continue to flourish, a clear message needs to be sent that the sort of misconduct Mr Hamilton committed will not be tolerated and will be met with the most severe consequences.”[17] The same can be said for breaches in any other sport.
3. Internal steps to be taken by organisations: There are specific steps that clubs and organisations can take to help address these issues (or which they may need to in order to comply with legal obligations). These include: (i) conducting thorough risk assessments; (ii) having clear and up-to-date policies in respect of safeguarding and the prevention of harassment and/or discrimination, including reporting frameworks and the consequences of breaching any policies; (iii) providing the appropriate training to players, coaches and staff and ensuring such training is refreshed; (iv) keeping records where issues are raised (ensuring compliance with data protection regulations and confidentiality); and (v) conducting thorough and independent investigations if safeguarding concerns are reported.
4. Steps which individuals can take: Individuals should ensure that they are both aware of and understand any relevant policies, including the reporting mechanisms. Further, individuals should attend training so that they: (a) are aware of how to behave appropriately themselves; and (b) recognise inappropriate behaviours of others.

As women’s sports continues to grow, so too will the noise. Not all noise is bad. There will be those loudly championing women’s sports, or sports enthusiasts who express understandable frustrations with performance or offer constructive criticisms. However, sadly, there is likely to be growth of noise and/or increase in actions which cross the line into misogyny, discrimination and harassment. Safeguarding measures need to be put in place so that these actions are addressed, and in so far as possible, prevented. Domestic legislation, such as OSA 2023 and EqA 2010, may assist in this endeavour. However, more is required from stakeholders in sport, including: (1) swift and strong regulatory responses to instances of misconduct by governing bodies; (2) the implementation of certain practical steps by sports organisations; and (3) ensuring that individuals take the time to educate themselves and participate in appropriate training. These types of measures would help make sure that, despite the noise, women’s sports can continue to excel in a safe arena.

 

 

[1] Emma Sanders, “More abuse as women’s football grows – Bronze”, BBC Sport, 20 July 2025. Accessible: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn0q77j2lezo (last accessed 01 February 2026).

[2] Kick It Out, “Reporting Statistics”. Accessible: https://www.kickitout.org/reporting-statistics (last accessed 23 February 2026).

[3] Lindsey Simpson, “Women’s experiences of sexual misconduct working in UK elite sport”, January 2026, page 7.

[4] Ibid, page 2.

[5] Women in Sport & Leeds Beckett University, “Reimagining Sport Coaching: Designing a system that works for women”, January 2026, page 15.

[6] Ruth Comerford, “Spain’s ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss”, BBC, 20 February 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c39vljzn0mlo (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[7] Kathryn Batte, “Manager banned for 12 years after sending sexually explicit images of himself to players”, The Telegraph, 17 January 2026, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/17/manager-banned-12-years-sexually-explicit-images-players/ (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[8] Fiona Tomas, “Emma Raducanu stalking case illustrates dark side of women’s sport”, the Telegraph, 19 February 2025,  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2025/02/19/emma-raducanu-stalking-womens-sport-danger-dark-side/ (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[9] Fiona Tomas, “’The hoped I would get cancer’ – Katie Boulter reveals shocking online abuse she suffers”, the Telegraph, 17 June 2025 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tennis/2025/06/17/they-hoped-i-would-get-cancer-katie-boulter-online-abuse/ (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[10] Fiona Tomas, Jack De Menezes, “Rape scandal at Britain’s most prestigious rowing club”, the Telegraph, 5 June 2025 https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rowing/2025/06/05/rape-scandal-at-leander-rowing-club/ (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[11] Kate Morgan, “Covid: Female athletes ‘harassed’ while training outdoor”, BBC News, 2 February 2021, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55890779 (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[12] Neve Gordon-Farleigh, “Harassment fears ‘make women live smaller lives’”, BBC News, 28 January 2026, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0jv2lqy1p4o (last accessed 02 February 2026)

[13] s.1 Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023; s.40A Equality Act 2010.

[14] S.21 Employment Rights Act 2025.

[15] Supra fn3, page 15.

[16] World Rugby, “World Rugby to protect players and combat online abuse at Women’s Rugby World Cup England 2025 through extended partnership with Signify Group”,  World Rugby, 23 April 2025, https://www.world.rugby/news/999208/world-rugby-to-protect-players-and-combat-online-abuse-at-womens-rugby-world-cup-england-2025-through-extended-partnership-with-signify-group (last accessed 02 February 2026).

[17] Kathryn Batte, “Manager banned for 12 years after sending sexually explicit images of himself to players”, The Telegraph, 17 January 2026, https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/01/17/manager-banned-12-years-sexually-explicit-images-players/ (last accessed 02 February 2026).