Sheffield United confirm they are joining fellow clubs in social media boycott to make stand against racism and online abuse

Sheffield United will join the rest of English football in a weekend-long boycott of social media later this month, in a bid to make a stand against online abuse aimed at players, managers and others connected with the game.
Players from both sides took the knee before kick off  (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)Players from both sides took the knee before kick off  (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Players from both sides took the knee before kick off (Photo by MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women's Super League, FA Women's Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the FSA and will unite for the boycott, from 3pm on Friday April 30 to 11.59pm on Monday May 3.

United’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts will fall silent, as will their Snapchat and Tik Tok, although their website and mobile app will continue.

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A statement, released on the websites of all clubs involved, confirmed the news this evening, after United’s 1-0 win at home to Brighton.

"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,” it read.

"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. Two Blades players have been targeted over the past 12 months.

“In our letter of February 2021, English football outlined its requests of social media companies, urging filtering, blocking and swift takedowns of offensive posts, an improved verification process and re-registration prevention, plus active assistance for law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute originators of illegal content.

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"While some progress has been made, we reiterate those requests today in an effort to stem the relentless flow of discriminatory messages and ensure that there are real-life consequences for purveyors of online abuse across all platforms.

“Boycott action from football in isolation will, of course, not eradicate the scourge of online discriminatory abuse, but it will demonstrate that the game is willing to take voluntary and proactive steps in this continued fight.

“Finally, while football takes a stand, we urge the UK Government to ensure its Online Safety Bill will bring in strong legislation to make social media companies more accountable for what happens on their platforms, as discussed at the DCMS Online Abuse roundtable earlier this week.”

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: "Racist behaviour of any form is unacceptable and the appalling abuse we are seeing players receive on social media platforms cannot be allowed to continue.

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"The Premier League and our clubs stand alongside football in staging this boycott to highlight the urgent need for social media companies to do more in eliminating racial hatred. We will not stop challenging social media companies and want to see significant improvements in their policies and processes to tackle online discriminatory abuse on their platforms.

"Football is a diverse sport, which brings together communities and cultures from all backgrounds and this diversity makes the competition stronger. No Room For Racism represents all the work we do to promote equality, diversity and inclusion and tackling discrimination."

Sanjay Bhandari, Kick It Out Chair, said: "Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse. This boycott signifies our collective anger at the damage this causes to the people who play, watch and work in the game. By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change.

"We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family. We need the Government to hold its nerve and keep its promises to regulate. The Online Safety Bill could be a game changer and we aim to help make that happen. There should be no space for hate and everyone can play their part. If you watch, work in or love the game, join in."

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Richard Bevan, Chief Executive at the LMA said: "The LMA fully supports the social media boycott across the professional game. A unified silence will send a loud and powerful message to those that perpetrate online abuse that their actions will no longer be tolerated, and to the social media companies that they have a responsibility to do everything in their power to eradicate online hate.

"We also urge Government to understand the significance of this collective action and to ensure that its Online Safety Bill delivers appropriately strong legislation."

Jane Purdon, CEO of Women in Football, said: "Women working across the game - as players, as coaches, as officials, in the media - can face horrendous levels of discriminatory abuse with real consequences for their well-being. Social media plays a critical role in civil society. It is vital that all can contribute to the conversations on social media with confidence, and in safety.

"Women in Football stands shoulder to shoulder with all people who have been affected by abuse on social media. We are united with the rest of football in calling for action to eliminate hatred online."

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Kevin Miles, Chief Executive of the Football Supporters' Association said: "The Football Supporters' Association is fully behind the game's efforts to stamp out online hate and discrimination and will join next weekend's social media boycott.

"Much media attention has rightly focused on the vile abuse aimed at players, managers and journalists in the men's and women's game and we see that aimed at fans groups too. It has to stop.

"Many of our most active fan groups tell us that they have received disgusting abuse when they are doing nothing more than trying to represent their supporter base. It's a threat to the very existence of supporter organisations who are run by volunteers in their spare time.

"As fans we stand with players, managers, referees and all in the game in calling for the social media companies to step up."

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