Soccer players demand change for rampant online racist abuse, turn to AI for protection

LONDON -- Missing penalties in a major international soccer final was bad enough for three Black players on England’s national team. Being subjected to a torrent of racial abuse on social media in the aftermath made it even worse.

Monkey emojis. Being told to go home. The N-word.

The even sadder part? Everyone knew it was coming.

“It’s stupid,” said Nedum Onuoha, a retired Black player who was in the top divisions of English and U.S. soccer for 16 years. “But are we surprised?”

It’s the latest . . .