This weekend Clapton CFC will join the rest of English football in a boycott of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The action is in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received on social media by players and many others connected to football.
Clapton CFC agree that social media platforms are not doing enough to stop online abuse. We have had enough, and we stand with those affected by online discrimination.
This boycott clearly won’t eradicate the underlying racism, homophobia, sexism, transphobia and ableism, but it is heartening that governing bodies as well as football clubs are prepared to take a stand.
Our Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts will fall silent from 3pm on Friday, 30 April until 11.59pm on Monday, 3 May.
Afterwards, Clapton CFC pledge to host takeovers of our social media accounts from groups working for change. More details to follow.
Explaining the reasons for the boycott, Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Association, said:
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 fan groups too. It has to stop. As fans we stand with players, managers, referees and all in the game in calling for the social media companies to step up.
Sanjay Bhandari, chair of Kick It Out, 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.
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. We are united with the rest of football in calling for action to eliminate hatred online.
Clapton CFC have several games this weekend, which you will obviously not be able to follow on social media.
However, you will be able to watch live streams on our YouTube channel of the men’s first team game vs NW London on Saturday at 4pm and the women’s first team game vs Dulwich Hamlet Reserves on Sunday at 2pm.
The results of these two games, and the men’s development team game vs Hackney & Leyton All Stars on Sunday at 10.30am, will be published on the results page of our website soon after full-time.