She Kicks and fc Business magazines will join The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out and the FSA in uniting for a social media boycott from 15.00 on Friday 30th April to 23.59 on Monday 3rd May.
The boycott is in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse on grounds of race, gender and other characteristics, received online by players and many others connected to football.
This has been scheduled to take place across a full fixture programme in the men’s and women’s professional game and will see clubs across the Premier League, EFL, WSL and Women’s Championship switch off their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.
As a collective, the game recognises the considerable reach and value of social media to our sport. The connectivity and access to supporters who are at the heart of football remains vital.
However, the boycott shows English football coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination.
She Kicks Editor Jen O’Neill, says: “The discriminatory abuse and vitriol directed towards players, coaches, officials, members of the media and even fans and volunteers who work in and support the women’s game and all types of football has been unacceptable for some time. For right-minded, humane members of society, it can be difficult to fathom why some individuals want to target others and spread hate, hurt and fear. We may not always know who is directing abusive messages but we do know the mediums that they can easily use to do so.
“Social media has been such an integral part of the development of the women’s game in the UK and beyond. It has contributed so much to the sport. But it has also become a space in which cruel negativity has been allowed to surface and breed. We are uniting with the rest of football and calling for action to eradicate hatred online.”
fcbusiness magazine Editor, Aaron Gourley, adds: Racism and racist abuse in the game has been a huge problem for many years and social media has increasingly become an echo-chamber for this hurtful and discriminatory abuse. It is all too easy for people to remain unaccountable for their offensive behaviour.
“By taking this collective action the football industry in England is sending out a clear message to the owners of these platforms that Enough is Enough. It’s time for change and by joining this boycott we hope we help to bring about radical action. We are calling upon these social media platforms to stamp out this problem, which can have a devastating impact on people’s lives.”
YOU CAN STILL WATCH FAWSL GAMES ONLINE THIS SUNDAY: https://womenscompetitions.thefa.com/en/Article/where-to-watch-the-WSL-this-week
