English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick has blamed sports betting for an increase in abuse aimed at his fellow players, particularly when competing in the US.
This is not the first time athlete abuse has been pinned on sports betting, with a barrage of online hate hurled at tennis players last year blamed on gambling. The issue of online abuse towards athletes has been a growing concern, with the anonymity of social media platforms often being exploited to target sports professionals.
Concerns have been raised regarding the mental health impact of such abuse on athletes, highlighting the need for stricter measures to tackle online harassment in sports. The debate continues on how to balance the freedom of expression with the protection of athletes from online vitriol.
