English football to boycott social media

The Report Desk

Published: April 25, 2021, 04:48 AM

English football to boycott social media

Premier League, English Football League and Women's Super League clubs will join in a four-day boycott of social media platforms in an effort to combat abuse and discrimination, reports BBC.

The boycott will start on 30 April.

The Football Association, as well as league bodies and other organisations, including anti-discrimination charity Kick it Out, will also be involved.

"This boycott signifies our collective anger," said Kick it Out's chairman Sanjay Bhandari.

"Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse.

"By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change.

Sheffield United's David McGoldrick, who was racially abused last year, welcomed the move, saying: "It is about time. What has gone off on social media, it has happened to me.

"It has happened to many players. Something needs to happen, it is too easily to get racially abused on there."

Speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday night after scoring in his side's 1-0 win over Brighton, the striker added: "The Super League got cut off in 48 hours, why is racism on the back foot? It is bigger in my eyes."

Brighton forward Neal Maupay has also been the subject of online abuse and he told Sky Sports the boycott was a "very good" move.

"The players get a lot of abuse online and we need to fight it. It's a good way to do it. It's good that we are in this together," the Frenchman said.

The Football Supporters' Association, League Managers' Association, Women in Football, Women's Championship and its clubs as well as refereeing body Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) have also committed to the boycott of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The move will come three weeks after Swansea City turned off their social media accounts for a week to make a stand against abuse following a number of their players being targeted.

Championship rivals Birmingham City and Scottish champions Rangers followed Swansea's lead in announcing a boycott of social media.

Former Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry removed himself from all social media in March because of racism and bullying across platforms.

"We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family."

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