Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter opens up on social media abuse after World Cup semi-final

Ellie Carpenter is standing tall after enduring a new form of online abuse after Matildas’ semi-final loss, writes ELIZA REILLY.

Carpenter was outmuscled in a contest with Lauren Hemp which eventually led to England’s second goal. After the game she was forced to restrict her social media after a wave of abuse. Picture: Getty Images

Ellie Carpenter can expect an enthusiastic reception when the Matildas return to the playing field at home this week – a stark contrast to the vicious trolling she was subjected to following Australia’s World Cup semi-final exit.

Carpenter, one of the Matildas’ brightest young defenders and a star with French powerhouse Lyon, exhibited incredible resilience to overcome an anterior cruciate ligament tear in May, 2022 and play a crucial role in Australia’s history-making World Cup campaign.

But while many applauded, some sought to tear her down.

Carpenter, 23, was out-muscled in the lead-up to England’s second goal of the World Cup semi-final, providing Lauren Hemp a window of opportunity. England scored again to settle the result but Carpenter remained tearful after the final whistle.

Then came the abuse.

Ellie Carpenter played a crucial role in Australia’s history-making World Cup campaign. But that didn’t stop ‘fans’ from tearing her down. Picture: AFP

Carpenter was forced to put restrictions on her social media accounts as trolls lined up to disparage her blunder. She has come out the other side stronger for the experience, but the performance-based abuse marked the arrival of a new frontier for female athletes.

Sexist and gendered hate is still the first-choice method of attack for malignant trolls. But the fact Carpenter was targeted for an on-field mistake, she believes, is an adverse by-product of the Matildas’ World Cup legacy.

“I think it’s everywhere these days,” she said. “It shows that the bigger you are and the bigger you get, the more criticism you get.

“That comes with being a professional athlete as well. You see it everywhere in different leagues and sporting codes. Obviously it’s a problem and I know a lot of people are trying to make apps and platforms to stop abuse. That’s good that people are aware of it and trying to change it.

“To be honest, I don’t really read or look into that. For me, it doesn’t affect me at all because I do a job for my team and for myself. I don’t really listen to outside noise. People know (what you’re going through). I had a great support system around me during that time and the whole World Cup. It is what it is.”

Carpenter was outmuscled in a contest with Lauren Hemp which eventually led to England’s second goal. After the game she was forced to restrict her social media after a wave of abuse. Picture: Getty Images

It has long been thought that female athletes are subject to more vitriol on social media than their male equivalents. And several studies have proven it.

In 2019, a study by women’s and children’s advocacy group Plan International examined more than 1,300 comments on broadcasters’ social media pages. It found that nearly 27 per cent of comments on well-read Facebook posts by major Australian broadcasters were negative towards female athletes. Male athletes copped just eight per cent of negative commentary.

Of the negative comments, 23 per cent were sexist and 20 per cent took aim at their sporting abilities. Nearly 14 per cent were highly sexualised and explicit.

A more recent study by the World Athletics Association, conducted during the Tokyo Olympic Games, found that 59 per cent of online abuse targeted female athletes, while sexualised and sexist abuse accounted for 40 per cent of posts.

UWA Associate Professor Marilyn Bromberg said experts have noticed a rise in performance-based abuse towards female athletes.

“I’ve definitely seen an increase in it but there aren’t any studies that have measured it,” she said.

“There is thankfully at the moment more attention given to female athletes which is much deserved and it makes sense that as you get more attention and you’re in the media more, you are going to get more abuse as well. It’s really unfortunate.”

Carpenter has come out the other side of it stronger, but studies do suggest female athletes receive more social media abuse than men. Picture: Getty Images

Bromberg, who holds a PhD in social media and law, said it’s not a matter of taking the good with the bad.

“We shouldn’t think that this is acceptable,” she said. “Receiving this kind of abuse can result in poor mental health so we shouldn’t just accept it. From what I’ve read, it’s more challenging generally for female athletes than male athletes.

“Our female athletes deserve so much better.”

Not that she needs to, but Carpenter has three chances in Perth to silence her critics.

“Whatever role I’m in, I’m happy to take that,” Carpenter said ahead of the Matildas’ Olympic qualifiers. “I enjoy being back here in this environment.

“You have to grow up very quickly. Especially in the football world, you need to be mature.

“I’ve experienced a lot of things on and off the field during my football career and it only makes you stronger, bigger and better.”

Originally published as Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter opens up on social media abuse after World Cup semi-final