• CONMEBOL launches an online protection system to combat racism and abuse on social media.
  
  
• The measure will be implemented from the Round of 16 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana.
  
  
• Sanctions may include account suspensions, stadium access restrictions and bans, as well as evidence for judicial authorities.

Luque, August 12, 2025 – Starting from the Round of 16 of the CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) will implement a proactive social media protection system to detect and take action against cases of abuse, hate speech, and racism targeting players, referees, clubs, and other football stakeholders.

This initiative will be carried out in partnership with Signify Group, a global leader in online protection and forensic analysis of online threats in sport. Signify has worked with organizations such as FIFA, World Rugby, Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and the International Ski Federation, providing its Threat Matrix platform, which enables real-time identification of threats, discourages abusive behavior, and facilitates concrete action against offenders.

«At CONMEBOL, we have a firm and non-negotiable commitment to respect. Racism, discrimination, and any form of violence have no place—neither on the pitch nor online. We will work to protect our protagonists both on and off the field,” said CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez.

“We are proud to support CONMEBOL in its commitment to protect players and the wider football family from online abuse and threat during key stages of the Libertadores and Sudamericana. Through our Threat Matrix service we will ensure that harmful online behaviour is identified, escalated, and – where necessary – met with meaningful consequences. We applaud CONMEBOL in taking such a proactive stance in this important space,” said Jonathan Hirshler, CEO of Signify Group.

How it works

On and around matchdays, the system will be active across social media platforms, focusing on official accounts, players, referees, and clubs. Through a combination of artificial intelligence and human analysis, the system will:

• Detect posts containing racist, threatening, or discriminatory language.
• Report the most serious cases and perpetrator IDs to judicial authorities, when applicable.
• Inform clubs of potential internal actions, such as stadium access restrictions.

• Provide evidence to digital platforms to enable  account suspensions and permanent removal of the most harmful content.

In other competitions where this model has already been implemented, it has led to a significant reduction in online abuse, improved security and safeguarding of athletes, and helping to create safer digital environments.

Ongoing commitment

This initiative is part of CONMEBOL’s broader efforts to eradicate racism and promote a culture of respect in South American football, both on and off the field.

CONMEBOL.com