Local teams to join social media blackout to tackle racism

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.

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.

It comes as Blackpool midfielder Grant Ward was subjected to vile racist abuse on Instagram after their game against Sunderland on Tuesday night.

Preston North End midfielder Alan Browne said: "Something has to change... I think you've got people who are hiding behind the screen giving racial abuse and it's embarrassing that it has to get to this stage. To go to the extent that some people do is disgraceful really and they should be punished and I don't think they can continue to get away with it."

Former Southport footballer Joe Thompson suffered racist abuse during his time as a professional player, he said: "It's a clear indication for me of that unity that it's not acceptable, it never has been and it never will be so it's a real statement and it starts from an education point of view but social media platforms also have to and can do more to stop it from happening."

The Scottish Football Association and Scottish Professional Football League have also joined up, with SFA chief executive Ian Maxwell saying:

“The Scottish FA is encouraged that football has united against the growing scourge of online abuse and we are proud to play our part in supporting the social media boycott.”

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.”

Lots of rugby clubs, including England's top 12 clubs have also announced they will support football and English and Welsh cricket by boycotting the social media platforms this weekend.

Sponsors show solidarity against racism

Adidas, which manufactures more than a third of Premier League kits, including the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester, is stopping all advertising across its platforms this weekend.

Barclays, title sponsor of the WSL and the official bank of the Premier League, will support the blackout, with no social media posts on the Barclays Football pages of Facebook and Instagram nor the Barclays Footy Twitter account, while the company’s other social channels will avoid all football-related activity.

Budweiser, which sponsors the England team, is also signing up, with online car retailer Cazoo, shirt sponsors of Aston Villa and Everton, on Tuesday becoming the first major football sponsor to announce its support.

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.”