WORCESTERSHIRE CCC, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), along with all other 17 First-Class Counties, the eight Women’s Regional teams and the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the football community in taking part in a social media boycott from 3pm today (Friday) to 11.59pm on Monday (May 3).
The club will not post across Facebook, Twitter or Instagram during this period.
In taking part in this boycott, they want to show solidarity with football and amplify its message that nobody should have to suffer abuse, racism or harassment on social media because they play or are involved in professional sport.
Fanos Hira, Worcestershire County Cricket Club Chairman, said, “Worcestershire County Cricket Club fully supports this initiative against online abuse, which should not be tolerated.
“Much more needs to be done to prevent the harassment, abuse and racism that exists on social media platforms. We stand together with all other sports. We hope that government action and social media companies address these pressing issues as soon as possible.”
Tom Harrison, ECB Chief Executive Officer, said: “As a sport, we are united in our commitment to fight racism and we will not tolerate the kind of discriminatory abuse that has become so prevalent on social media platforms.
“We’re proud to add our voice to all those across sport who are sending the message that more can, and must, be done to eradicate online hate.
“Social media can play a very positive role in sport, widening its audience and connecting fans with their heroes in a way that was never possible before. However, players and supporters alike must be able to use these platforms safe in the knowledge they do not risk the prospect of facing appalling abuse.”
Rob Lynch, PCA Chief Executive, said: “The PCA is fully supportive of the social media boycott as cricket stands together with football and other sports in a show of solidarity against online abuse.
“Social media companies have to do more. Our members are often victims of horrific online abuse with little or no punishment for the perpetrators and this has to change.
“A unified silence from players and the wider game is a powerful stance to show that our members will not allow social media companies, which have brought so much benefit to the game, to continue to ignore and fail to prioritise the need for appropriate legislation in protecting people against online discriminatory behaviour.
Worcester City are among the football clubs to fall silent this weekend.
In a statement on Twitter the club said: “This weekend we join the English football family and other sports in a boycott of social media to demand change.
“We need serious action to end the discriminatory abuse players and countless others are subjected to on social media.