In cooperation with the German Football Association (DFB), Germany’s Central Office for Combating Cybercrime (ZIT) has so far initiated 45 investigations into hate speech online. Athletes are repeatedly exposed to hate comments on the internet – especially during major events such as the European Football Championships or the Olympics. According to Benjamin Krause from the ZIT, 15 suspects have been “identified beyond doubt.” The Central Office for Combating Cybercrime is part of the Public Prosecutor General’s Office in Frankfurt am Main and is the first point of contact for the Federal Crimi…