England Women's star explains why she was banned from social media by FIFA

21 July 2023 , 05:30

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Siobhan Chamberlain has opened up on social media abuse and her Vine ban (Image: Getty Images)

Former Lioness Siobhan Chamberlain was “banned” from posting on social media platform Vine by world governing body FIFA.

Footballers sharing intimate Instagram posts and revealing TikTok reels delving into the minutiae of their professional and personal lives has become standard protocol in recent years.

But in 2013, Chamberlain experienced her first taste of the impending stir-crazy social media world when posting to Vine, a TikTok precursor known for its six-second-long looping video clips, during the 2013 Women’s European championships.

And it wasn't looked upon favourably.

“I did a Vine from the changing rooms before one of our opening group matches,” Chamberlain told Ladbrokes. “It was a six second clip of what the girls were doing; I think we were just eating Haribo sweets or something.

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“We go out, play the game, get back home and we're in the hotel having our food. There are TVs on the wall, and my Vine is on TV; it made the national news! I got banned by FIFA from doing that in future, because apparently I was giving people access to things we weren't allowed to show.

“I was like "I'm just showing us eating sweets in the dressing room! Why would that not be allowed?!" Whereas now, that type of content, and that access to players, is everywhere.”

Now, with more eyes comes more scrutiny and squads such as England employ social media blackouts during the tournament.

The now-commentator admits she was “pretty against” a blanket social media ban recommended ahead of the 2015 World Cup.

“I was always so active on my channels, so it's something I was pretty against. If people didn't want to go on it, then that's fine," Chamberlain said. “But for some people - like myself - that's their day to day life, and if you take that away from them, that changes their whole experiences too.”

She added: “Social media is just part and parcel of what comes with the game nowadays. As long as people know how to manage it themselves, and are given the right support, then hopefully it will be used solely as a positive.”

England Women's star explains why she was banned from social media by FIFA

Lucy Bronze of England and Siobhan Chamberlain during a presentation of legacy caps

Chamberlain has not always found herself on the positive side of social media and recalled times in which seemingly innocuous posts have incited misogynistic abuse.

“I've posted a picture of my gloves and had replies like 'the only gloves you need are oven gloves'. Silly little things like that,” she said.

“There was one occasion where someone told me I should be in the kitchen baking, but at the time my husband was actually in the kitchen baking some muffins, so he replied to the comment with a video of himself trying to take the muffins out of the oven in my goalkeeper gloves - assuring the keyboard warrior they weren't as useful as oven gloves.

“I think that got quite a bit of engagement, which was great.”