Harrogate Town boss speaks out against racism ahead of blackout
Town will join football teams from across the country to protest against abuse on social media
Last updated 29th Apr 2021
The boss of Harrogate Town has spoken out against online abuse as the club prepares to come off social media for four days as part of a blackout.
Sports teams, players, sponsors and governing bodies across the UK are joining together this weekend in a show of solidarity against racism.
A number of accounts from across differing sports will go silent on social media for three days from 3pm on Friday (30th April) until a minute before midnight on Monday.
Simon Weaver's told Greatest Hits Radio he hopes social media companies will take notice of what's going on and crack down on abusive comments.
"The people running this companies have to take note," Weaver said. "It has to be taken out of our society."
Weaver revealed he's witnesses racist abuse at Harrogate Town games too, saying he once heard a supporter shouting at a player.
"I turned round to see who it was, but they'd gone" Weaver said. "But people should be able to press charges for abuse, and abuse of this kind".
"It's deep hatred within certain people, and it's disturbing."
Social media blackout started with football
Last week, a coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies – including the Football Association, Premier League and EFL – revealed they would go silent on social media following a rise in abuse directed at players and other individuals within the game.
This weekend’s boycott follows social media blackouts by Swansea, Birmingham and Rangers in recent weeks, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson stating he would be willing to follow Arsenal great Thierry Henry in coming offline altogether in protest against racist behaviour.
Other sports join the boycott
English and Welsh cricket will join football’s boycott of social media this weekend in a show of solidarity against racism and discrimination.
The England and Wales Cricket Board, all 18 first-class counties, the eight women’s regional teams and the Professional Cricketers’ Association will all boycott platforms
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “As a sport, we are united in our commitment to fight racism and we will not tolerate the kind of discriminatory abuse that has become so prevalent on social media platforms.
“Social media can play a very positive role in sport, widening its audience and connecting fans with their heroes in a way that was never possible before.
“However, players and supporters alike must be able to use these platforms safe in the knowledge they do not risk the prospect of facing appalling abuse.”
Social media blackout could be debated in Parliament
The social media boycott to protest against online racism could become a matter for debate in the House of Commons as MP Julie Elliott wants Parliament to discuss the issues it raises.
Elliott, a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, has written to the Leader of the House of Commons requesting Parliamentary time be put aside to debate the boycott.
“This boycott is unprecedented in the industry. We have seen far too many examples of sportspeople receiving sexist, racist and homophobic abuse online,” she wrote to the Leader of the House Jacob Rees Mogg.
“I am therefore writing to you to request…. parliamentary time on the floor of the House is granted to debate this important issue.”