Big brands rush to join social media boycott
ADIDAS is the latest big-name brand to join the planned social media boycott by footballers, clubs, organisations and associated businesses, a boycott that was started by the Swans earlier this month following online racist abuse directed at Yan Dhanda.
The sportswear company, which manufactures more than a third of Premier League kits, is stopping all advertising across its platforms this weekend.
A coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies and organisations including the Football Association, Premier League and EFL announced last weekend they will go silent on social media in a show of solidarity against racism.
The FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the Football Supporters’ Association will also suspend all use of their social media accounts from 3pm this Friday until 11.59pm on Monday, May 3.
Sponsors and associated businesses are also joining up, with adidas the latest.
“Adidas is proud to stand in solidarity with the football community in calling for more to be done to prevent racist, discriminatory and threatening abuse online,” said a spokesman.
“We have halted all paid advertising across our UK social platforms for the duration of the boycott.”
MP Julie Elliott, a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, has written to the Leader of the House of Commons requesting parliamentary time be put aside to debate the boycott.
Barclays is the title sponsor of the WSL and the official bank of the Premier League and will support the blackout.
There will be no social media posts on the Barclays Football pages of Facebook and Instagram nor the Barclays Footy Twitter account, while the company’s other social channels will avoid all football-related activity.
Online car retailer Cazoo, shirt sponsors of Aston Villa and Everton, became the first major football sponsor to announce its support, with others expected to follow suit.
The move follows social media blackouts by Swansea, Birmingham and Rangers in recent weeks, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson stating he would be willing to follow Arsenal great Thierry Henry in coming offline altogether in protest against racist behaviour.
The boycott could also be embraced by other sports, with the Lawn Tennis Association confirming its involvement on Monday.
But the Rugby Football Union has confirmed it is not joining the boycott and neither is golf’s European Tour.
England cricketer Stuart Broad said he would welcome any such action: “I think it is definitely worth a conversation, it’s a really strong message.”