‘A force for good…’ – Key Sheffield Wednesday pair back the social media boycott
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The Owls will take part in the boycott that begins at 3pm this afternoon and runs through until Monday night, with all of their social media channels falling silent alongside every other club in the Premier League and English Football League – several organisations inside and outside the football industry are also getting involved.
It has been said that the hope is for social media companies like Twitter and Facebook to do more about the swathes of online abuse that goes on in the game, whether it be racial, homophobic, sexist or otherwise.
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Hide AdWednesday’s stand-in manager, Jamie Smith, told the media in his latest press call, “Hopefully it’s not just this weekend - it has to be the start of something. It needs to be stopped, so hopefully this is just the start.”
Meanwhile, the club’s skipper, Barry Bannan, said, “I am proud that Sheffield Wednesday are 100% behind this movement because there has to be change.
“There is no room or reason for any form of abuse on social media. Footballers are human beings like everybody else and no one should be subjected to some of the terrible abuse that we see week in, week out.
“Everyone getting together like this will help but in the long term it will take more than this. If what football is doing this weekend can help towards the changes that need to be made then this can only be a force for good.”