SWANS’ SOCIAL MEDIA BLACKOUT IN RACISM STAND
SWANSEA City are taking part in a week-long social media blackout as part of the battle to combat online abuse and discrimination.
Several footballers including Swansea trio Ben Cabango, Yan Dhanda and Jamal Lowe have been the victims of sickening abuse on social media sites in recent weeks.
The Swans have condemned the abuse on each occasion and have vowed to do all in their power to put pressure on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to tackle the issue.
All players from the first team, under-23s, under18s and ladies will join senior club staff in not posting any content on to social media channels Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linkedin, Snapchat, Youtube and Tiktok for a period of seven days.
The club’s official channels on the same platforms will also remain dormant for one week from 5pm yesterday.
In addition to their club-wide stance on refusing to post on social media for seven days, chief executive Julian Winter has written to Twitter CEO, Jack Dorsey, and Facebook’s founder, chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg to reiterate the club’s stance and desire to see social media companies introduce more stringent policing and punishments for those guilty of sending such abuse online.
A club statement read: “As a football club, we have seen several of our players subjected to abhorrent abuse in the past seven weeks alone, and we feel it is right to take a stand against behaviour that is a blight on our sport, and society at large. We will always be unwavering in our support of our players, staff, supporters and the community that we proudly represent, and we are united as a club on this issue.
“We also want to stand with players from other clubs who have had to endure vile discrimination on social media platforms.
“As a club we are also acutely aware of how social media can impact on the mental health of players and staff, and we hope our strong stance will highlight the wider effects of abuse. Swansea City would like to thank its sponsors and partners for their support on this matter, as well as the EFL.
“Something has to change soon and, as always, we welcome any support from fellow clubs, players, fans and executives as we all continue to work together in this important fight.”
News will continue to be posted on the Swans’ official website during the blackout before a return to social media at 5pm on Thursday, April 15.
Club captain Matt Grimes has said the club are determined to put pressure on social media companies following the abuse the likes of Cabango, Dhanda and Lowe have received of late. “As a close and diverse group of players, this is something we all feel extremely passionate about,” said the central midfielder.
“Three of our squad have been racially abused in recent weeks and, as a squad and club, we wanted to take this stance as we again call on those at the forefront of social media companies to implement the change that is needed now and in the future. I find it staggering that we are still talking about racism and abuse of this kind. We are acutely aware of the pressures within football at this level, but it shouldn’t be underestimated as to how such levels of abuse can affect someone.
“Social media has provided so many positives over the last decade, however the sickening and vile abuse that we are seeing on a daily and weekly basis is wholly unacceptable, and we hope that this stance across the club will be supported by everyone.
“We are a family and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with each other, whether that’s on the pitch or helping to fight injustice off of it.”
The blackout covers Swansea’s matches against Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday.
■ Cooper on Lowe: sport