Danger to Sport-Journalists in Latin-America

The safety of journalists has been an enduring topic of conversation since the origin of the profession. Journalists have been forced to endure a range of threats of both violence and intimidation. Today, across the globe, journalists remain highly vulnerable to capture, detention, and even murder. As of 2024, the alarming rate of journalist imprisonment has reached a historic peak, further compounded by the escalating harassment directed towards female journalists.

You likely wouldn't associate these threats occurring to a sport’s journalist - however, increasingly in 2024, the dangers exposed to traditional journalists are also being extended to within sports media. Arguably, the most dangerous region to be a reporter, Latin America has emerged as a hub for these threats.

Recently, there has statistically been no more dangerous place to be a journalist than Latin America. Even though Europe is experiencing its biggest conflict since World War 2, of the 67 journalist deaths reported in 2022, more than half were in Latin America.

In 2023, at least five journalists were killed in Mexico alone, with dozens of arrests in both Colombia and Venezuela. Reports of journalists doing their jobs in fear are totally widespread. These fears are exacerbated by the dramatic rise of authoritarian regimes in the region, who have ramped up their repression of freedom of speech and facilitated threats to journalists.

Executive Producer at SBS, Carlos Colina said that Latin America remains a very dangerous environment for any journalist. Colina, who grew up in Colombia, described how journalists in his native country continue to be targeted not just by drug organisations but also by the government and the state military.

“It remains difficult to report the truth as a journalist - I know for a fact most of the critics of our government are outside the country, so they can report freely without being targeted,” said Colina.

“It’s a scary situation.”

Although the dangers are arguably not as severe, sports journalists based in Latin America are being increasingly subjected to threats. Particularly recently, there is a growing trend of sports journalists being detained, arrested, or even murdered - further exacerbated within Latin America.

For instance, in June 2021 prominent Nicaraguan sports journalist Miguel Mendoza was arrested and detained. Although he had worked as a sports journalist for 30 years, Mendoza was known to add what he described as a “political sauce” to his reporting. The Sports Press Association (AIPS) was universal in their condemnation of the arrest.

“Mendoza has been taken as a prisoner because his opinions are not to the liking of the authorities of his country - Rather than being subjected to repressive tactics, harassment, or persecution, journalists should be applauded for their contribution to society,” said AIPS vice president Carlos Castellano.

Beyond the political risks, covering any sporting events within Latin America poses its own set of unique challenges. Latin America is home to some of the most passionate and fervent fan bases in the world.

In particular, football, with numerous records of physical attacks by football fans on journalists throughout the region, including Peru, Colombia, Brazil, and Mexico.

For instance, the rivalry in Buenos Aires, Argentina between River Plate and Boca Juniors, known as the Superclásico, is notorious for its fanaticism and violent outbursts. In 2015, a match between the two teams was abandoned when River Plate players were hit with pepper spray from fans in the stands - with several requiring hospital treatment.

“There is a culture of naturalising violence in stadiums. It's a place where people go to let animals out, to vent. They curse coaches, they curse referees, and they curse journalists too,” said Aline Oliveira Rios, a Brazilian researcher who has investigated the risks of working in football journalism.

Journalists covering these sporting events are required to be vigilant about their own safety and are regularly put in harm's way. 

In December 2023, following Atlético Nacional's defeat to Medellín in Colombia, enraged Nacional fans outside the stadium began criticising TV journalist José Luiz Alarcón while he was on air. What began as disparaging criticism quickly turned into a physical attack against Alarcón and his crew.

Furthermore, in Paraguay in February 2023, after their defeat to local rivals Paranaense, fans of football club Presidente Franco overran a broadcast booth and attacked journalists Héctor Maciel, Wilson Martínez, and Alcides Brítez.

The rise of a new digital age has only further proliferated the reach of impassioned football fans to journalists. Back in 2017, Eric Faria, a pitch-side TV reporter in Brazil, was accused by fans of Santos FC of influencing a match. In the second half, Santos was awarded a penalty kick just in front of where Faria was standing. The referee then changed his mind after consulting with a linesman, who fans accused, were warned to reverse their decision by Faria. Faria subsequently received multiple death threats, the majority of which through online platforms, because of these accusations.

“Football is going crazy,” said Faria.

“I’ve received a load of death threats, people telling me that if I go to the Vila Belmiro (Santos home stadium) I’ll leave in a hearse, that I am going to get beat up, stoned, and all that."

It’s not just the fans that can threaten journalists; it can also extend to people working within a sporting organisation. For instance, in 2012, Brazilian sports journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira was murdered by four men while leaving his office at Rádio Jornal. The subsequent investigation found that the former president of Atletico Goianiense, Maurício Borges Sampaio, was behind the killing, primarily as retaliation to Oliveira’s critical reporting of his football club. In 2024, a Brazilian court sentenced Sampaoli to 16 years imprisonment for his role in the killing.

“The decision by the state court to uphold the conviction - is a victory not only for his family but for everyone working to end impunity for the killing of journalists,” said Cristina Zahar, Program Coordinator for CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists) Latin America.

Finally, women in sports media face a greater and more heightened danger. Beyond just Latin America, female journalists globally are at the epicentre of risk for the profession. A 2023 survey found that 75% of female journalists had experienced a threat to their safety and 25% had experienced a form of sexual violence or harassment through work.

Sporting events in Latin America such as football are particularly high-risk for women attendees. In September 2022, ESPN journalist Jessica Dias was harassed by a fan during a live report in the Maracanã. During Dias’ report, the fan rubbed her and kissed her cheek.

“I suffered sexual harassment while working and that’s a crime. I didn’t want a kiss - I just wanted to work,” said Dias.

With sport’s journalists facing greater risks than ever before, there should be a renewed focus toward training and developing the necessary protocols. As Alina Olivieira Rios said, only through developing protocols to avoid dangerous situations and training journalists in how to behave in emergencies can people be protected - so that we can continue to celebrate football in Latin America and not be terrified by it.