Premier League managers offer support for social media boycott
Premier League managers have backed a boycott of social media amid a growing sense that action has to be taken over online racist abuse directed at players.
Brendan Rodgers, Dean Smith, Steve Bruce and Sam Allardyce suggested they would support a ban. Pep Guardiola said he hoped such a measure might make a difference, while Jose Mourinho indicated that Tottenham Hotspur were considering being part of a boycott and Jurgen Klopp urged players to take the unilateral decision to not use the platforms, saying it would be a “step in the right direction”.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Manchester United’s approach was to work with the companies. “I respect other clubs and players and managers whatever they do, but for me it’s important we work together, that we find a way out of this once and for all,” the United manager said.
The Premier League and English Football League are poised to discuss the idea of all 92 clubs quitting social media for a time at a meeting next week.
A boycott has gathered pace after Birmingham City and Rangers joined Swansea City in switching off all platforms in protest at the inability to tackle trolls.
“We would support it [a blanket ban], though obviously it would be a club decision,” Rodgers, the Leicester City manager, said. Newcastle United’s Bruce was even more forthright. “Ban the whole lot, as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “But I do think, in all seriousness, that the platforms should be policed and a bit like your telephone – you’re accountable for what you do and what messages you send out there.”
Mourinho said it was incumbent on the companies to take action. “I think the ones that can make an impact on this and resolve the problem are the media giants.”
Kick It Out, the anti-discrimination group, is backing a blanket ban.