RUGBY and cricket participated in a social media boycott along with football this weekend, which will take place tomorrow (Friday, April 30th) from 3 p.m. to Monday, May 3, 11:59 p.m.
Premiership Rugby confirmed Wednesday that the organization and its clubs will be teaming up with other sports to “go dark” on bank holidays over the weekend, while fully supporting BT Sport’s Draw The Line campaign. This boycott is supported by the Rugby Players’ Association.
This is the first phase of a multimillion dollar BT campaign aimed at combating hate speech and social media abuse.
Many clubs tweeted their support for the boycott, including Worcester City, Worcester Warriors, and Worcestershire CCC.
City tweeted:
As part of @ WeAreTheFSA’s community-owned clubs network and as @ kickitout Chartered Club, we want to show solidarity by joining the social media boycott this coming weekend. # NoRoomForRacism #EnoughIsEnough https://t.co/rNHSkJ06uU
– Worcester City FC (@WorcesterCityFc) April 25, 2021
Warriors General Manager Peter Kelly said, “As a club, we accept that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, but we will not tolerate contributions that transcend the mark in personal or collective abuse.
“As part of our support for Draw The Line, we’re going to join the social media boycott this weekend.
“From Friday, April 30th, 3pm to Monday, May 3rd, 11:59 pm, we will not publish anything on the various social media channels of the club.
“In order for the boycott to take full effect, we have asked all employees – playing and not playing – to resist the temptation to post on their own social media accounts for the duration of the boycott.”
We will support the campaign against social media abuse and online hatred.
– Worcester Warriors (@WorcsWarriors) April 28, 2021
The England and Wales Cricket Board, top counties, regional women’s teams and the Professional Cricketers’ Association will be involved.
Worcestershire starts its match with Essex today but will also join the campaign and cease social media coverage from 3pm tomorrow.
Worcestershire CCC and the cricket community, hand in hand with the football community, will participate in a social media boycott that will run from Friday, April 30th, 3:00 p.m. (CET) to Monday, May 3rd, 11:59 pm O’clock (CET) takes place.
– Worcestershire County Cricket Club (@WorcsCCC) April 28, 2021
The sponsor of the Premier League and the Super League for women, Barclays and the channels Talksport and BT Sport, will also join the boycott from tomorrow (Friday).
The women of the city will also take part.
As part of @Womeninfootball and as @kickitout Chartered Club, we want to show solidarity by joining the social media boycott this coming weekend. # NoRoomForRacism #EnoughIsEnough https://t.co/K5r4RGl8iv
– Worcester City Women FC (@WCFCWomen) April 25, 2021
The British Basketball League has also confirmed its participation in this weekend’s boycott.
Worcester Wolves issue a statement stating:
“According to a statement by the BBL, the Worcester Wolves will hold a social media boycott with colleagues from the BBL and the WBBL this weekend from Friday, April 30th, 3:00 pm to Monday, May 3rd, 11:59 pm.
“All Worcester Wolves social media channels will be tacitly during this time to urge the UK government to act to confirm that the Online Safety Act allows social media companies to be responsible for ongoing racism and discrimination on their platforms to be made.
“The Worcester Wolves are united with other teams in the BBL and WBBL as well as with colleagues in other sports in the fight against the horrific abuse that continues to be seen on social media platforms.”