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English Football Announces Social Media Boycott

Marketing & Communications
Norfolk County FA will join The FA, Premier League, EFL and others in uniting for a social media boycott.

English Football Announces Social Media Boycott

Norfolk County FA will join The FA, Premier League, EFL, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the FSA in uniting for a social media boycott from 3pm on Friday 30 April to 11.59pm on Monday 3 May, in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse 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, Barclays FA Women's Super League 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.

Edleen John, The FA’s director of international relations, corporate affairs and co-partner for equality, diversity and inclusion, said: "It’s simply unacceptable that people across English football and society continue to be subjected to discriminatory abuse online on a daily basis, with no real-world consequences for perpetrators.

"This needs to change quickly, and we continue to urge social media companies to act now to address this. We will not stop talking about this issue and will continue to work with government in ensuring that the Online Safety Bill gives sufficient regulatory and supervisory powers to Ofcom. Social media companies need to be held accountable if they continue to fall short of their moral and social responsibilities to address this endemic problem.

"We have recently seen how powerful it can be when everybody is united for the good of the English game. We are calling on organisations and individuals across the game to join us in a temporary boycott of these social media platforms, to show solidarity and unite in the message that English football will not tolerate discrimination in any form."

Norfolk FA’s Chief Executive, Gavin Lemmon, added: “Discriminatory abuse has no place in society and football needs to lead the way in eradicating it. This temporary boycott is just the start of the journey to achieve a sport that is free of discrimination and hopefully social media companies implement stricter policies and punishments for the guilty parties.

“At a local level, we are asking all our leagues and clubs to join the boycott and show unity along with the rest of English football that discrimination of any form will not be accepted in our game.”

 

Contacting Norfolk FA

All social media accounts operated by Norfolk FA will be inactive during the boycott, this includes the social media accounts for theFDC, theFDC@OpenAcadamy and theFDC@Flegg.

Phonelines will be open on Saturday morning between 9am – 12pm with staff available to speak to.

Please see below the ways to contact Norfolk FA during the social media boycott.

Written by Marketing & Communications