The social media outlets are not listening... too many people are being abused but these platforms are ignoring it.. I’m proud of our stance as a club
RANGERS stood firm together as a team to make history on the park this season.
Now Steven Gerrard hopes that they can do the same as a club to bring change off it.
The Ibrox boss would love it if other clubs joined them in a social media boycott to help fight online racist abuse.
Gerrard has been left sickened by some of the vile slurs directed at the likes of Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe on a daily basis.
That is why he agreed to take action following a meeting with senior players as they announced a week-long boycott of all social media channels.
With nine million Instagram followers, high-profile figures such as Gerrard hope to make a difference along with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who recently deactivated his accounts.
Gerrard admitted football, after Swansea and Birmingham City led the way in England with boycotts, can play its part by putting pressure on the Government to ensure tech giants take more responsibility to stop the trolls.
He said: “It’s been spoken about for long enough now and it doesn’t seem like Instagram, Twitter or the social media outlets are taking any notice or listening. So the only way they will take notice is if it goes above them and the Government are probably the only ones who can do that.
“If football keeps doing its thing in terms of speaking about it and keeping it on the media, the radio and the TV, then hopefully something will be done because enough is enough.
“Too many people are getting abused on a daily basis and it’s not acceptable. It makes you frustrated and angry that these social media platforms are ignoring it because that’s what they’re doing at the end of the day and letting it go on.
“We felt it was the right thing to do as management. We listened to our senior players and collectively made a decision which our club has backed and that makes you proud.
“Hopefully other clubs and individuals keep doing their own thing to keep it in the media spotlight as well. Every club - the players, management, the board - have the right to make their own decisions and decide what they want to do.
“I know all the clubs are trying their best and working as hard as they can to send the right message.
“Stewart Robertson is speaking to all the different clubs up here and down south, asking a lot of questions, and we’ve got a meeting next week with social media outlets.
“Hopefully there is some positive news in the near future. We felt it was the right thing to do to stand next to our players and send the right message from a Rangers point of view.
“We’re not demanding others follow
If people keep it on the agenda as long as possible hopefully there will be change STEVEN GERRARD CALLS OUT SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES
suit but if they did it would be fantastic to keep it in the spotlight. “We’re hoping it gets into the right people’s thinking in terms of people above football like the government in Scotland and England and something big comes from it. “We know we are not going to be the club or individuals that make that difference but if people stick together, and collectively people can keep it on the agenda for as long as possible, then hopefully there will be change sooner rather than later.”
Swedish stopper Filip Helander has been someone his team-mates have been able to trust with his performances in defence this season.
Now he wants to be a rock for those who are hurting in the dressing room over the abuse.
He said: “The players are strong characters and maybe don’t show how it’s affecting them but it’s awful for anyone to get that kind of abuse.
“It can affect you more if you are a more fragile person and that’s why we want to make change. The boycott was
a decision from the club and also the players. We all stand behind it. It’s something we want to do to hopefully change the situation as it is today.
“Hopefully, together with other clubs, we can get some change.
“It’s important we all show our support. We are a team and always try to stick together – and we need to do that at a time like this.”
On the park Rangers continue their quest for an Invincible league campaign when they take on Hibs at Ibrox tomorrow in the first of their five postsplit games.
The clash with Jack Ross’ side will be the final preparation for next week’s massive Scottish Cup last-16 Old Firm showdown at Ibrox and Helander knows Hibs will provide a stiff test.
With a draw at Easter Road in the first meeting and two 1-0 wins, he said: “We know it’s going to be a big challenge. We’re playing against a team we’ve had problems with this season so we know it’s going to be tough.
“The last game we played at Easter Road it was a bit of a bad pitch and the game was scrappy but we’ve been good at handling different situations.
“We’ve obviously won the league but we’re focused on staying undefeated and taking it one game at a time.”
Gerrard knows Hibs pose a real threat. He said: “They have done fantastically well and are in third place so I’m sure they’re pretty satisfied in terms of their league campaign.
“It looks like they’re going to finish in the European places. They’ve got dangerous players and a good coach who sets them up really well.
“They’re a team who try to play and try to hurt you. They’ve got good patterns of play so you have to be at your best to get the right result.
“We’ve had previous tough challenges against this team.
“We have to be ready because this isn’t a team you can be complacent against or they’ll make you pay.”