Boycott joined by Bath at weekend
Bath City Football Club were one of many to take part in the social media boycott last weekend.
Alongside the FA, Premier League, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, National League, Kick It Out and the FSA, Bath switched off their social media in a boycott from 3pm on Friday 30 April to 11.59pm Monday, in a united stand to highlight and challenge discriminatory abuse received online by players and many others connected to football.
Manager Jerry Gill agreed with the club’s decision and admitted he’s been a victim of abuse online in the past.
“There is no place for abuse in any form in society, let alone sport,” he said. “We now need to see what happens next.
“I agree with what Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have said. Until people are identified it’s never going to stop.
“No-one wants to experience it. I’ve listened to what Robbie Savage has had to suffer and what happened with Karen Carney is a disgrace.
“People just sit there and think it’s OK to have a go at you, I’ve had it. We’ve had some for our crowdfunding which I find astonishing.”
Gill’s Twitter account is locked, with the manager’s tweets invisible to those who he does not accept as a follower.
“I want people to share their views with me and don’t just want people patting me on the back,” he said. “I don’t proclaim to get it right every week as a manager. I accept people having opinions but abuse is not on.
“I like discussions about football but when it becomes personal, it has to stop. We have feelings as much as anyone else.
“I might change my profile back to public or I might come off it altogether. I wonder sometimes whether it’s worth being on there.
“I like interacting with our fans though so it’ll be a shame to stop.”