English football announces total social media boycott in response to online abuse
25 Apr 2021
English football has announced a top to bottom boycott of social media starting next weekend.
The drastic action is in response to the discrimination and abuse aimed at players, pundits and other members of the footballing community online.
The Football Association, Premier League, English Football League, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, PFA (Professional Footballers’ Association), and Kick It Out announced the move in a joint statement.
They went on to say: “English football coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination”.
Edleen John, The FA’s Director of International Relations, Corporate Affairs and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, has said in an official statement: “It’s simply unacceptable that people across English football and society more broadly continue to be subjected to discriminatory abuse online on a daily basis, with no real-world consequences for perpetrators.”
Similar sentiments where echoed by Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters added: “Racist behaviour of any form is unacceptable and the appalling abuse we are seeing players receive on social media platforms cannot be allowed to continue.
The planned social media boycott will take place across a full fixture programme in the men and women’s game, with Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts being switched off.
The moves follows a similar solo action taken by Arsenal and France legend Thierry Henry who is also currently doing a boycott of social media in protest of racial abuse on the platforms.
The blackout will run from 3pm GMT on Friday April 30 to 11.59pm on Monday May 3.