FA CLOSE TO JOINING SOCIAL MEDIA BOYCOTT
CLUBS SIGNING UP TO CAMPAIGN TO END RACIST ABUSE —
THE Football Association could join Premier League and Football League clubs in boycotting social media as part of a blanket blackout.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal there is a growing desire from clubs throughout the divisions to hold a league-wide boycott of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to put the platforms under pressure to do more following a rise in online abuse.
Top- flight clubs have already discussed collective action prior to a meeting of football’s key stakeholders this week.
Swansea led the way when they announced on Thursday that the club, players and staff would come off social media for seven days.
The Championship side said enough was enough after three of their players — Jamal Lowe, Yan Dhanda and Ben Cabango — had all been subjected to racist abuse.
They were soon joined by fellow Championship side Birmingham City as well as Steven Gerrard’s Rangers while Reading captain Liam Moore deactivated his Twitter account after being racially abused. The Liverpool trio of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Kieta and Sadio Mane were also targeted after their defeat by Real Madrid.
Following Swansea’s decision, we asked all remaining 91 league clubs as well as the Premier League, EFL and FA whether they would consider a boycott. There was a strong consensus among those who responded that a joint action would send the strongest message. A boycott involving clubs in all four divisions will be discussed at a meeting of the Premier League, EFL and other bodies such as Kick It Out set for early this week.
The MoS led calls for a boycott in February when former cabinet minister and head of the football task force David Mellor urged clubs to use their power and step away. The FA confirmed they would consider joining clubs in a boycott if a blanket ban is decided.
‘ We fully support any club or player that wishes to take a stand against any form of discrimination in a respectful manner, including the boycott of social media platforms,’ a spokesman said.
‘Creating a game that is free from discrimination remains a core priority for our organisation and we will continue to use our platforms to openly challenge online hate. We are in regular dialogue with other English football authorities and, if it is felt collectively that a boycott of social media platforms would achieve the desired effect in leading to tangible change, it is something we would consider.’
Sheffield United striker Rhian Brewster is one of many Premier League players to be targeted and the Blades confirmed they want to send the strongest message.
‘We remain committed to tackling racism and a boycott of social media is just one course of action that is being considered,’ a club spokesman said. ‘Talks are ongoing between the club, players and stakeholders but senior officials feel a collective, with the Premier League at the forefront, will present a stronger message to the relevant organisations. A number of our players have been victims of abhorrent online abu see aandd we willw be keen to be part t of any measures t hat will make a difference.’ e.’
On Friday, Tottennham manager Jose se Mourinho and d Aston Villa boss s Dean Smith h backed calls for a mass boycott while Arsenal and Manchester r United have ve launched their own anti-abuse campaigns. aigns.
How long clubs maintain a boycott remains to be seen. They have been reticent to implement such blackouts as many of their lucrative commercial contracts are linked to fan engagements on such platforms.
West Brom boss Sam Allardyce admitted money talks, saying: ‘I’d like an accumulation of clubs to all do it together. That would for me be the only way a difference may be made. But, of course, if that meant losing revenue over survival and, trying to help on these abusive messages, the money may override that unfortunately. There’s a lot of people in a lot of trouble financially because of the pandemic.’ The EFL has already held talks with its clubs over collective action with a league- wide boycott one option. Clubs said they are expecting more guidance from the EFL tomorrow. ‘Further to divisional meetings, the EFL continues to consult with c clubs ubs in respect espec of any collective action re regarding the ongoing and sustained s racist, discrim criminatory, and threaten ening abuse suffered b by players and other members o f the football community o online,’ an EFL spokesman s said. ‘The football au authorities have co consistently challen lenged social media com companies to use their platfor platforms to effect change and as pa part of the Football Online Hate Working Group we continue to work with stakeholders to create conditions that will ensure there are real-life consequences for online abuse.’ Almost every club that responded to our questions made it clear they believe social media companies should do much more. Football’s authorities, including the Premier League, FA, EFL and the PFA, sent a letter to Twitter and Facebook in February urging them to put a stop to racist abuse on their platforms.
While the Premier League would not confirm if they would join a group boycott, a spokesperson told us: ‘Racist behaviour of any form is unacceptable and tackling online hate is a priority.
‘Our immediate focus is continuing to extend our online monitoring and reporting systems, strongly challenging social media companies to block and take down discriminatory abuse and help us take legal action against offenders.
‘ We are also working with the Government to ensure our views are heard regarding the upcoming Online Safety Bill legislation.
‘We continue to support players, managers and their families who receive discriminatory online abuse. This abhorrent abuse condoned by social media platforms can not be allowed to continue and working together with our clubs and our partners in football we will not stop until it is removed from our game.’