Mashable: The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18.

With the Qatar World Cup less than five months away, FIFA, the governing body of football, has said that it will collaborate with FIFPRO, the international organization that represents professional footballers, on a plan to improve individual protection.

The rise in specifically targeted hate speech on social media during international football tournaments in the run-up to the Qatar 2022 World Cup has been highlighted by a report released by FIFA.

The analysis covered over 400,000 social media posts that were uploaded during the semi-final and championship rounds of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2021 and Euro 2020.

After missing their penalties in the Euro 2020 championship game against Italy, three England players received harsh internet criticism.

To combat this, FIFA and FIFPRO will introduce a special moderation service that looks for terms associated with hate speech and hides them from the recipient and their followers once found.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar is scheduled to take place from November 21 to December 18.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, “Our duty is to protect the football, and that starts with the players who bring so much joy and happiness to all of us by their exploits on the field of play.”

He further added, “This detection is not only there to protect football but also to educate current and future generations who engage with our sport on social media as well as on the field of play.”

Speaking on the same, FIFPRO president David Aganzo said, “Online abuse is a societal issue and as an industry, we cannot accept that this new form of abuse and discrimination affects so many people including our players.”

As part of the initiative, Fifa and FifPro will also offer players educational support and mental health advice during major tournaments.