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      Premier League clubs set to join forces to boycott social media in stand against vile racists after spate of incidents

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      PREMIER LEAGUE clubs are considering joining forces to boycott social media.Top-flight teams want to send a message that racism will not be tolerated and a blanket boycott is one way to do so.
      Premier League clubs are considering joining forces to take a stand against online abuseCredit: Reuters
      According to Daily Mail, teams could unite to stay away from platforms such as Instagram and Twitter for an entire round of fixtures.
      The report adds that the idea of a Friday 5pm to Monday 9am social media hiatus has been discussed.
      And such a move would ramp up pressure on social platforms to act against online hate and abuse after a spate of recent incidents.
      One potential hurdle for such a blanket boycott is the commercial deals and agreements that clubs have to promote on their social channels.
      It comes after Swansea ditched social media for a week in a self-imposed seven-day exile.
      Rangers also followed suit in Scotland with a boycott of their own.
      Thierry Henry last month told SunSport’s Troy Deeney why he quit social media.
      The Arsenal legend shut down his accounts to take a stand against online abuse.
      Clubs are pondering a potential boycott social media for an entire round of fixturesCredit: Getty
      Henry explained: “Even if you have two million comments that are great, if you have one or two or three that aren’t, it has an impact on you.
      “I’m a man, I’m 43, but I’m still trying to figure out what kind of person I can be.
      “So just imagine when you are a kid and what it can do to your mental health.
      “The sheer pressure of not being on Instagram or Twitter or whatever is second to none for kids.
      “I’m always going to fight for my community and my sport. Being black and in football, I’ve seen too many people suffer.
      “But let’s not forget about the rest. That’s why I mentioned bullying and harassment and the impact it can have on you mentally.

      “People go to the extent of committing suicide. Not only black people are getting abuse on social media, not only football players.”
      The France legend added: “There is freedom of speech. But you can’t shout whatever you want in an airport, a cinema, a police station. This is my point: accountability.
      “Wilfried Zaha got abused and we find out after that the kid is 12 years old. How do you have an account? How can we not know who you are behind that account?”
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      Man Utd star Anthony Martial subjected to vile racist abuse after West Brom draw.. the latest incident in worrying trend

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      ANTHONY MARTIAL has once again been targeted by racist trolls following Manchester United’s draw with West Brom.
      The France striker – along with club team-mate Axel Tuanzebe – were both on the receiving end of horrific abuse following the loss at the hands of Sheffield Utd on January 27.

      Anthony Martial has been targeted by vile racists following Man Utd’s 1-1 draw with West BromCredit: AFP

      And Martial was subjected to yet more disgraceful taunts on social media after the West Brom game, despite social media vowing to clamp down on racists.
      Martial, 25, started the game at The Hawthorns, but was replaced by Mason Greenwood after 66 minutes of the 1-1 stalemate.
      Immediately after the match, the United star was subjected to racist abuse on Instagram just days after their vow to crack down on vile trolls.
      Sick racists posted horrifying messages to various posts on his Instagram page, including the use of abusive emojis and the N-word.

      It is just the latest incident in a string of worrying racist attacks aimed at players.
      Tuanzebe and Martial were abused after the loss against Sheff Utd.
      Team-mate Marcus Rashford was targeted after the 0-0 draw with Arsenal.
      Southampton teenager Alex Jankewitz was also among the many footballers to be attacked in recent weeks.

      Martial and team-mate Axel Tuanzebe were trolled by sick racists following last month’s loss to Sheff UtdCredit: PA:Press Association

      Chelsea pair Reece James and Antonio Rudiger were both sent racist abuse, as well as James’ sister and Red Devils star Lauren.
      West Brom’s Romaine Sawyers was also on the receiving end of some abhorrent abuse last month – with a man arrested.
      Swansea and Manchester City said they were ‘appalled’ and ‘saddened’ as police opened an investigation into racist abuse sent to Yan Dhanda earlier this week.
      Instagram admitted their systems have struggled to block many of the abusive posts because they do not routinely screen direct messages as they are supposed to be private.
      But the company – owned by Facebook – have vowed to act more quickly in banning those behind the racist messages.
      They have also promised to work with police as much as possible to prosecute the abusers.
      Instagram has vowed to make it easier for users to use settings to block terms or emojis from reaching them.
      They also say it is working on a new feature – planned for roll-out later this year – which will improve the ability to stop abusive DMs reaching them.

      Solskjer reacts to Man Utd’s dismal draw with West Brom More

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      Cristiano Ronaldo reaches historic 500 MILLION social media followers while Georgina Rodriguez launches fashion range

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO has continued to set records on and off the pitch after reaching 500 million followers on social media.
      The Juventus superstar became the first celebrity to hit the historic half a billion figure across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

      Cristiano Ronaldo has hit the 500 million mark on social mediaCredit: Instagram

      The Portuguese star is the first person to hit half a billion followersCredit: Instagram / @cristiano

      Juventus star Ronaldo is the most followed celebrity on Instagram

      The five-time Ballon d’Or winner earns more in sponsorship than football salaryCredit: Instagram

      The 36-year-old pops up on 124m Facebook feeds, 91m users’ Twitter timelines and his photos appear to a whopping 261m people on Instagram.
      Other than Insta’s own personal account with 386m followers, Ronaldo’s page is the most followed of anyone in the world.
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      Even on YouTube, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner exceeds a million despite not using the account for four years.

      Ronaldo’s great rival Lionel Messi only boasts 90m Facebook followers and 183m on Instagram, while the Argentine doesn’t have Twitter.
      SunSport revealed last year that CR7 actually makes more money on social media than he does playing for Juventus.
      Ronaldo saw an increase of £3.5m from his Instagram earnings last year from in 2019 by pocketing an average £971,000 per sponsored post.
      Over the past year he promoted Nike, his fragrance CR7 Play it Cool and even an EMS training device called ‘Sixpad’.

      His partner Georgina Rodriguez, who regularly frequents his page, has also amassed 24m followers and is one of the fastest growing Instagram’s.

      Ronaldo’s Social Media Following

      Instagram: 261m
      Twitter: 91m
      Facebook: 147m
      YouTube: 1m

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      And the Spanish model has continued to branch out with the launch of her own clothing line.
      Rodriguez is no stranger to the fashion industry having caught the eye of Ronaldo when she worked as a sales assistant at a Gucci store in Madrid.
      The 27-year-old will be hoping her own fashion line is just as successful as Ronaldo’s, as his ‘CR7’ range continues to grow.

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      Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg and Twitter chief Jack Dorsey called out by football chiefs to end abuse on social media

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      ENGLISH football has united to demand social media giants stop talking and start acting to root out online abuse.
      In a direct and no punches pulled message to Twitter chief Jack Dorsey and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, representatives of all areas of the game came together in an open letter to tell the companies that ‘basic human decency’ required intervention.

      Football chiefs have penned a joint letter to social media giants including Facebook’s Mark ZuckerbergCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      Twitter boss Jack Dorsey is the other recipient of the letterCredit: Reuters

      Recent weeks have seen players including Anthony Martial, Axel Tuanzebe, Reece James, Romaine Sawyers and Lauren James subjected to vile racist abuse.
      And referee Mike Dean will not work this weekend following online death threats posted to his family.
      The damning letter was signed by FA chief Mark Bullingham, Prem boss Richard Masters, Gordon Taylor, EFL chief exec Trevor Birch, womens’ game leader Kelly Simmons, the LMA’s Richard Bevan, Mike Riley and Sanjay Bhandari of Kick It Out.
      It said: “The language used is debasing, often threatening and illegal.

      “It causes distress to the recipients and the vast majority of people who abhor racism, sexism and discrimination of any kind.
      “We have had many meetings with your executives over the years but the reality is your platforms remain havens for abuse.
      “Your inaction has created the belief in the minds of the anonymous perpetrators that they are beyond reach.”
      Players are understood to be considering a boycott of Twitter, Facebook and Instagram as a sign of their growing anger and indignation.

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      And Edleen John, the FA director in charge of equality, diversity and inclusion, explained: “The companies must be able to create an algorithm which filters and blocks this abuse.
      “There must also be a swift takedown of anything they see that could be abusive or deemed abusive.
      “Users need to be verified. We have keyboard warriors sitting at home, typing whatever they want, and nobody is able to trace them or where they are.
      “I don’t believe these social media companies are unable to do that. If there is anybody who can find that information, it’s going to be a massive tech company.
      “We’ve been talking for 18 months. It seems there isn’t that impetus or momentum in the social media companies to address this.
      “It shouldn’t take 18 months to build an algorithm for them to be able to stop some of the stuff that’s happening.”
      ‘THEY’RE NOT READY TO MAKE THAT CHANGE’
      Twitter and Facebook both responded by insisting they were taking the issue seriously, in the wake of Government threats to levy fines of 10 per cent of their global earnings if the abuse continued.
      A Twitter spokesperson said: “There is no room for racist abuse on Twitter and we are resolute in our commitment to ensure the football conversation on our service is safe for fans, players and everyone involved in the game.
      “We strongly condemn this behaviour and will continue to take swift action on the minority that try to undermine the conversation for the majority.”
      Facebook added: “We don’t want hate and racism on our platforms and remove it when we find it.”
      But John added: “The discussions are always around ‘well, you know, we can’t look at things like emojis, because you have to think of context’.
      “If you are talking about a black person receiving a banana or a monkey, I’m not sure any further context or explanation is needed.
      “And if you can build a robot to vacuum your house you must be able to create an AI mechanism that can see words, emojis and pictures and filter them.
      “The only conclusion you can draw is they’re not ready to make that change and they don’t want to because they are more interested in driving people to the platforms.”
      ⚽ Read our Football live blog for the very latest news from around the grounds

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      Instagram vows to ban trolls who racially abuse footballers and reduce hateful DMs after coming under fire

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      INSTAGRAM has broken its silence on the racist abuse aimed on footballers and vowed to get tough on those who use the platform to send hate messages.
      The social network, owned by Facebook, has been criticised for not doing enough to prevent sick individuals racially abusing stars.

      Axel Tuanzebe is one of the many footballers to experience racist abuse on social media in recent weeksCredit: Getty Images – Getty

      They admit their systems have struggled to block many of the abusive posts from hitting home because they do not routinely screen direct messages as they are supposed to be private.
      But the company have vowed to be quicker banning those behind the racist messages and promised to work with police as much as possible to prosecute the abusers.
      Instagram said in a statement: “We want Instagram to be a place for people to connect with the people and things they love. But we also know that, just like in the offline world, there will always be those who abuse others.
      “We’ve seen it most recently with racist online abuse targeted at footballers in the UK. We don’t want this behaviour on Instagram.

      “The abuse we’re seeing is happening a lot in people’s Direct Messages (DMs), which is harder to address than comments on Instagram.
      “Because DMs are for private conversations, we don’t use technology to proactively detect content like hate speech or bullying the same way we do in other places.
      “But there are still more steps we can take to help prevent this type of behaviour.
      “So today we’re announcing some new measures, including removing the accounts of people who send abusive messages, and developing new controls to help reduce the abuse people see in their DMs.

      “Currently, when someone sends DMs that break our rules, we prohibit that person from sending any more messages for a set period of time.
      “Now, if someone continues to send violating messages, we’ll disable their account.
      “We’ll also disable new accounts created to get around our messaging restrictions, and will continue to disable accounts we find that are created purely to send abusive messages.
      “We’re also committed to cooperation with UK law enforcement authorities on hate speech and will respond to valid legal requests for information in these cases.
      “As we do with all requests from law enforcement, we’ll push back if they’re too broad, inconsistent with human rights, or not legally valid.”
      The company has promised to make it easier for users to use settings to block terms or emojis from reaching them, and says it is working on a new feature to roll out later this year which will improve the ability to stop abusive DMs reaching them.
      Manchester United’s Axel Tuanzebe, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, as well as Southampton teenager Alex Jankewitz are among the many footballers to be targeted in recent weeks.
      Chelsea pair Reece James and Antonio Rudiger were also sent racist abuse, as well as James’ sister and Red Devils star Lauren.

      I’m not sharing screenshots. It would be irresponsible to do so and as you can imagine there’s nothing original in them. I have beautiful children of all colours following me and they don’t need to read it. Beautiful colours that should only be celebrated.
      — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021

      Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “For too long the world’s most popular and powerful social media companies have failed to tackle the stream of horrific racist attacks on their platforms.
      “I welcome Instagram’s improved policies but racist abuse is still a fact of life for too many people and more has to be done across the board to stamp it out.
      “We’re introducing a new age of accountability for these companies through our upcoming Online Safety Bill and this could see huge fines for firms which fail to clearly and transparently protect their users.”

      Solskjaer slams ‘disgusting’ racist abuse of Man Utd duo Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial on social media More

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      Ian Wright’s racist abuser should have been JAILED – we will get nowhere by pussyfooting around despicable insults

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      TEENAGER Patrick O’Brien was so upset at losing a Fifa video game, he sent Ian Wright 20 racist messages on Instagram.
      Wright recoiled. O’Brien later asked his forgiveness. Well he would, wouldn’t he?

      Ian Wright’s racist abuser has dodged jail after a court hearing in IrelandCredit: PA:Press Association

      His solicitor in Tralee District Court said he was a good boy in school. Well, he would, too, wouldn’t he?
      He pleaded that the judge should put him on probation. Which he did, didn’t he?
      Wright, an outstanding commentator and wonderful footballer, speaks more common sense than a dozen of those judges and solicitors.
      He said he accepts O’Brien’s apologies but that didn’t alter the fact that he was disappointed his abuser has hardly been inconvenienced by his punishment.

      I’ll say it for Wright. O’Brien should have been jailed.
      The judge had an opportunity to set a deterrent and a precedent, but instead brushed this vileness aside as if it meant nothing.
      And so, the abuse continues.
      In our most depressing week in football Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial were all targeted, as was Southampton midfielder Alex Jankewitz.

      Humanity and social media at its worst. Yes I’m a black man and I live every day proud that I am. No one, or no one comment, is going to make me feel any different. So sorry if you were looking for a strong reaction, you’re just simply not going to get it here 👊🏾
      — Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) January 30, 2021

      Rashford described the abuse as “humanity and social media at its worst”.
      And I can assure you whatever you have read, it will only be the tip of the iceberg of what these young men, and many others, are being subjected to.
      Two things become clear to me. First, we will get nowhere by pussyfooting around racism.
      It is dehumanising, humiliating and cowardly and must be treated as a most serious crime, ranked alongside assault at least.
      Wright said: “An individual wished death on me because of my skin colour.
      “No judge’s claims of ‘naivety’ or ‘immaturity’ will be acceptable to us.”

      I advise social media companies to set about catching everyone or, better, forcing people to identify themselves to send messages.

      Second, it is time the Government got tough with online social media companies, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and the rest, to ensure they act responsibly.
      Twitter, which has more than 330 million users and is valued at more than £30billion, takes no liability for comments made on its platform.
      They insist they are just “enabling communications” rather than publishing content — a crucial distinction which means they are not liable for trolling or abuse.
      Tell that to anyone, myself included, who has been on the wrong end of violent abuse, threats of rape or murder, or racism.
      If you report someone on Twitter their account may be blocked. But the troll simply sets up another account, in another name with another email address, and the abuse continues.
      So, I advise social media companies that instead of making noises about independence of views and the difficulties in rooting out these creatures, you should set about catching everyone or, better, forcing people to identify themselves when they send messages.
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      On the basis they think they can hide anonymously behind their keyboards, making it easy to identify them so they can be held responsible for their words will have the biggest deterrent of all.
      As for the abusers themselves, you are despicable.
      All 20 Premier League clubs have united and we are determined to make eliminating you, and your abuse, a priority.

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      Wilfried Zaha called ‘n*****’ again as he calls on Instagram to act to catch ‘stupid, racist cowards’

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      WILFRIED ZAHA received more disgusting racial abuse on social media before demanding Instagram do more to catch “stupid, racist cowards”.
      Zaha took to his Instagram story to share yet more vile racist messages, one read: “a n***** bragging about getting a wee lad arrested that’s a bit sad innit.”

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      Wilfried Zaha vented on Instagram after receiving more vile abuse

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      Zaha received another disgraceful taunt online
      It comes just two days after a 12-year-old boy was arrested for racially abusing the Crystal Palace star on the same social media site.
      Vile taunts were aimed at Zaha ahead of his side’s trip to Aston Villa.
      One read: “You better not score tomorrow you black c***.”
      Images of the American racist hate group the Ku Klux Klan were also sent to the 27-year-old.

      Zaha reflected on the last few days before sharing yet more disturbing screenshots with followers.
      He said: “This is why I don’t tend to talk even though I get stupid racist messages everyday of my life – this is why I don’t talk.
      “But the other day, I thought you know what, I’m going to out this person – it happened to be a 12-year-old.
      “How can you have such hatred at 12? And send off those things.

      “It doesn’t make a difference to me how old he is.”

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      Zaha was previously abused before the game at Aston Villa
      Zaha called for greater security protocols, such as providing your address, to link people to social media accounts.
      He added: “Social platforms like Instagram, Twitter – to make a change for people not to be able to do this and be held accountable for the stuff they send.
      “Everyone should put their proper details in…so I don’t get these messages.
      “For all the kind, supportive stuff people have been saying, I want action. I want change.
      “Unless people give their proper full details they should not be allowed to make an account because that is all cowards do.
      “These stupid racist cowards…they hide behind accounts. We can put it everywhere, on the news, but it is going to carry on.
      “Until these things are changed, then I don’t want to hear nothing man, I’m sorry.”

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      David McGoldrick was another Premier League star to be sent vile racist messages
      Zaha is not the only Premier League star to receive abuse over the weekend as Sheffield United’s David McGoldrick was also subject to shocking taunts.
      The Blades striker was called an “ape” among other vile insults just hours after Zaha revealed his barrage of abuse.
      Instagram told SunSport that “racism is not tolerated on Instagram and we have removed the accounts brought to our attention” – with the recent introduction of a setting that gives users the option to only allow people they follow to directly message them.

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      Cristiano Ronaldo earns £14m MORE from Instagram than he does from Juventus as he puts Messi and Kylie Jenner to shame

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      CRISTIANO RONALDO is Instagram’s top earner after raking in £14million MORE from his posts than he does playing for Juventus. According to a new report from Buzz Bingo, the Portuguese superstar has retained his crown as the social media site’s highest earner. Cristiano Ronaldo earns more on Instagram than he does playing for Serie A […] More