Episode 3484: The Reality of the Edogbo Racist Abuse, Phantom Publics

Edwin Edogbo made his debut for Ireland against Italy earlier this month.  The experience was marred by online racist abuse he suffered on Irish Rugby channels, culminating in comments on X being blocked by the IRFU.  The reaction to this was one of anger, outrage and despair.

©INPHO

Since then, we’ve been taking a look at from who and from where these comments originated, and the story is a little more complicated.  Mark speaks to Dr Eileen Culloty, Associate Professor in the School of Communications in DCU where she’s also Deputy Director of the DCU Institute for Media, Democracy & Society about the rise in co-ordinated online attacks, the numbers involved, and the idea that what we are now paying such attention to are ‘phantom publics.’

We also discuss Galway’s Alex Murphy and his Champions League debut for Newcastle, and the turbulent build-up to the second leg of Real Madrid and Benfica tonight.

Click the player at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife.