Cats to a take part in social media boycott
Sunderlandaresettotakepart in a social media blackout.
The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out and the FSA have united for a social media boycott from 3pm on Friday, April 30 to 23.59 on Monday, May 3.
The move comes in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received online by players and manyothersconnectedtofootball. The blackout has been scheduled to take place across a full fixture programme in themen’sandwomen’sprofessional game and will see clubs across the Premier League, EFL,WSLandWomen’sChampionshipswitchofftheirFacebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
The joint statement acknowledged that boycott action from football in isolation will not eradicate online discriminatory abuse fully.
However, football’s regulatory bodies say it will demonstrate that the game is willing totakevoluntaryandproactive steps in this continued fight.
Trevor Birch, chief executive of the EFL said: “EFL clubs have expressed a clear desire to take a united stand against abhorrent racist, discriminatory,andthreateningabuseon social media platforms which we fully support.
“While we recognise the value and role social media playsinourgame,onlineabuse will not be tolerated and we will continue to strongly pursue all avenues open to us to affect change. The boycott is only part of the work being undertaken in this area but further highlights the need for social media companies to take responsibility for the inappropriatebehaviourontheir platforms.”