Ipswich Town's social media boycott against discrimination and abuse
Football and other sports clubs across the UK will be taking part
Ipswich Town is taking part in the social media boycott starting today (30 April).
It will be avoiding all social media from 3pm until the end of Monday (3 May) to emphasise the need for online platforms to do more to eradicate hate.
The boycott also aims to highlight the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight to end discrimination.
While it was originally a collaboration of professional football clubs and associated staff, other sports including Rugby and Cricket will also be taking a stand.
Head of Content at ITFC, Jacob Henderson, said: "Whether it abuse affects them or not, it's not ok. I've seen a few people suggest that players shouldn't be on social media, but if we start to do that then that means the people directing the abuse online are the winners.
"That's not a route I want to go down or I want the club to go down and it's certainly not a route that football should go down.
"We want to stop these messages getting through to the players and people in football that are suffering them, that's where the social media companies need to do more. Then, once that's achieved, it's an education process to show that diversity and equality is part of the game.
"It's not only part of it, it's what makes it so good."
"None of it is ok but particularly on the racism front, it's shocking in society and football to say that in 2021 these things are still happening. It's good that clubs and the bodies in football are standing together to stay it's not ok."
Sanjay Bhandari, Chair of Kick It out, said: "Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse. This boycott signifies our collective anger at the damage this causes to the people who play, watch and work in the game.
"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.
"We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family.
"We need the Government to hold its nerve and keep its promises to regulate. The Online Safety Bill could be a game changer and we aim to help make that happen. There should be no space for hate and everyone can play their part.
"If you watch, work in or love the game, join in."
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.
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.”