Barrow AFC reveal players and staff faced abuse as they join social media boycott

The Bluebirds will join their fellow professional clubs in posting nothing on their social media channels from 3pm today to 11.59pm on Monday.

It is part of a collective stance aimed at urging Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to do more to rid their sites of the sort of abusive messages faced by footballers recently.

It means Barrow will not offer any of their normal social media content around this weekend’s game against Southend.

Bluebirds chief executive Levi Gill said it was high time social media companies did more to root out the kind of abuse that some individuals at Holker Street have faced this season.

He said: “Barrow AFC absolutely supports the decision for a co-ordinated social media boycott this weekend.

SHUTDOWN: Barrow AFC will not be on social media this weekend

“The value of social media to sport, particularly in reaching out to fans for a community club such as ours, is something we don’t underestimate, but it’s time to start a dialogue on this issue and push for meaningful change.

“At our club alone this season, we’ve had several instances of unacceptable, abusive or threatening behaviour directed not only at players but also staff.

“Where appropriate, these instances have resulted in club bans or police action.

“This is a side of football that supporters are probably unaware of, but it is a growing issue in our modern society. It’s time that social media companies took the lead and took ownership of the content being published on their platforms.”

The Bluebirds’ counterparts, some of whom are facing huge weekends on the pitch, will not be posting any social media content either.

That includes Southend, whose relegation from League Two could be confirmed tomorrow.

STAND: Barrow AFC will be silent on social media this weekend PAT SCAASI/MI NEWS

EFL chief executive Rick Parry said: “I think it’s extraordinarily important that we come together to send a really strong message to social media companies and, more importantly, people who use social media.

"We’ve actually seen the way people have come together over the Super League and there’s no reason they shouldn’t come together for what is a really good cause.

"The message is that we’ve had enough of the abuse, there’s been too much of it and it needs to stop.

“I think it’s important that others join us: that celebrities, fans, the media and journalists will come on board, as well as other sports.

"This is something that impacts all of us and the more that join in, the better.”