The ECB, England Rugby, Premiership Rugby and the LTA will join forces with football's governing bodies in planned social media boycott from 3pm on Friday, April 30 until 11.59pm on Monday, May 3; the measures are intended to highlight and help combat racism, abuse and discrimination
Thursday 29 April 2021 17:58, UK
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), England Rugby, Premiership Rugby, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) and British horseracing have confirmed they will join football's social media boycott this weekend.
The four-day period of online silence, initially announced by a coalition of English football's largest governing bodies and organisations, will run from 3pm on Friday, April 30 to 11:59pm on Monday, May 3, and is aimed to combat abuse and discrimination.
Scotland's football and rugby governing bodies have also joined the boycott.
In a joint statement, the ECB and Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) said they will stand "shoulder to shoulder with football", with all 18 first-class counties and the eight women's regional teams taking part.
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."
Rob Lynch, PCA chief executive, added: "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."
England Rugby say they will join the boycott in a show of solidarity against online abuse, with all RFU-run social media channels including England Rugby, Allianz Premier 15s, Greene King IPA Championship and GB7s taking part.
Red Roses captain Sarah Hunter said: "No professional sportsperson should have to suffer abuse, racism or harassment on social media.
"We've all seen how social media can help bring fans and players closer together but this does not mean abuse should be ignored."
Premiership Rugby also confirmed they and their 12 member clubs would pledge their support to the boycott.
A Premiership Rugby statement read: "Premiership Rugby and all our clubs will unite with other sports including football for a social media boycott from 15.00 on Friday, 30 April to 23.59 on Monday, 3 May. This boycott is supported by the Rugby Players' Association."
Elsewhere, the LTA announced it will also unite with the football community and abstain from using social media platforms for the duration of the boycott. However, golf's European Tour is not expected to join.
British horseracing says it will join the social media boycott from 9pm on Friday after a planned commemoration of the life of Lorna Brooke, the amateur jockey who sadly lost her life following injuries incurred during racing this month.
The Professional Darts Corporation, Professional Darts Players' Association, the British Basketball League and Women's British Basketball League will also support the boycott.
The moves follow social media boycotts by Swansea, Birmingham and Rangers in recent weeks, with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson stating he would be willing to follow Arsenal great Thierry Henry in coming offline altogether in protest against racist behaviour.
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