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Swansea City to boycott social media after continued abuse of players


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Swansea City have announced a club-wide social media boycott for seven days, to stand against the continued racial abuse suffered by players.

The club have confirmed they will not post any content to their social media platforms for one week, starting at 5pm this evening.

All playing members of the men's and women's teams from under 18 level and above, as well senior staff and officials have also agreed to abstain from social media during the seven-day boycott.

It comes a day after Liverpool were forced to condemn the racist abuse suffered by their own players, following their defeat to Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Swansea say they have taken the stand, after several members of their squad were subjected to "abhorrent abuse" in the last seven weeks, and have called on other clubs and professionals to join them in their one-week boycott.

"As a close and diverse group of players, this is something we all feel extremely passionate about," said Swansea City captain Matt Grimes.

"Three of our squad have been racially abused in recent weeks and, as a squad and club, we wanted to take this stance as we again call on those at the forefront of social media companies to implement the change that is needed now and in the future.

"I find it staggering that we are still talking about racism and abuse of this kind. We are acutely aware of the pressures within football at this level, but it shouldn’t be underestimated as to how such levels of abuse can affect someone.

"Social media has provided so many positives over the last decade, however, the sickening and vile abuse that we are seeing on a daily and weekly basis is wholly unacceptable, and we hope that this stance across the club will be supported by everyone.

"We are a family, and we will always stand shoulder to shoulder with each other, whether that’s on the pitch or helping to fight injustice off it.

"Enough is enough."

The club's CEO Julian Winter has also written to the CEOs of both Twitter and Facebook to demand social media organisations social media companies introduce more stringent policing and punishments for those guilty of abuse.


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