Celtic this evening released a statement on the official club website, confirming that they will be participating in a social media boycott this weekend as part of Scottish football’s stand against racism and online abuse. Celtic have also widened the issue to include sectarianism and open by making a very valid point that Celtic has been a club open to all since 1888. Here is Club Statement from Celtic on the news that they will be participating in Scottish football’s social media boycott this weekend.
Clubs across Scotland will join the Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women’s Football and PFA Scotland in switching-off all social media activity from 15:00 on Friday 30 April until 23:59 on Monday 3 May.
Celtic Football Club Statement – Social Media Boycott
As a Club who has welcomed all since 1888, we are pleased to support this collective campaign.
Sadly, through various social media platforms Celtic players, staff and supporters for some time have been subjected to racial and sectarian attacks and horrendous personal abuse – this is something which simply has to stop.
Abusing someone because of the colour of their skin, abusing an individual due to their religion, unacceptable personal attacks or pathetically mocking the death of a loved one – our players, staff and supporters have, tragically, experienced it all through social media.
We must all make a stand and together defeat this negative, damaging behaviour which inflicts so much harm.
Social media can be an important, powerful tool. Let’s use it properly.
A statement has also issued jointly on behalf of the SFA and SPFL: “Clubs are invited to take part by switching off their channels or ensuring any limited posting during that time include recognition of the campaign hashtag #FootballUnites.”
SPFL chief executive Neil Doncaster added: “Discrimination of any kind has absolutely no place in Scottish football and the online abuse received by some of those involved in our national game is absolutely abhorrent.
“The SPFL is committed to ensuring that Scottish football is inclusive and welcoming to all. Players and supporters from diverse backgrounds have played, and continue to play, an enormously positive and valued role in our game.
“Diversity is part of what makes Scottish football what it is, it should be protected and championed. As a society, we all have a responsibility to stamp out abusive behaviour and ensure that everyone, regardless of background, can enjoy football in this country without fear of receiving hate-filled messages online.
“Social media provides a wonderful platform for clubs of all sizes to communicate with their fans. It’s a platform that our clubs have used to great effect in recent years but it is also a medium that is being abused by a vile and mindless minority.
“These cowards often hide behind anonymous accounts and it is incumbent upon social media companies to actively and aggressively combat this problem.
“The SPFL will continue to work with our member clubs and partners, including Show Racism the Red Card, the Scottish FA and Police Scotland to drive home the message that there’s no place in our game for discrimination of any kind.”
We are Celtic – and we say NO to Racism. pic.twitter.com/vd1XEOfbCG
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 6, 2017
Ian Maxwell, Scottish FA Chief Executive, said: “The Scottish FA is encouraged that football has united against the growing scourge of online abuse and we are proud to play our part in supporting the social media boycott.
“Through the work of our Equality and Diversity Board we have set up Football Unites, an equality framework that underlines our commitment to fairness, justice, respect, inclusion and the removal of barriers.
“At our recent summit meeting involving clubs and representatives of the game we witnessed a groundswell of people motivated to tackle inequality in all its forms. We are also in dialogue with social media companies to ensure adequate preventative measures are put in place to tackle the specific issue of online abuse via those channels.”
Vivienne MacLaren, Scottish Women’s Football Chair said: “The exposure the women’s game continues to get across all media channels is extremely exciting for us all. What has sadly come along with this wider reach has been an increase in abusive and discriminatory language targeted at those involved in our game.
“This has been particularly prevalent on social media and we have made it very clear we will not tolerate this. We hope that this action reminds media owners that they must stand up to this abusive behaviour and make perpetrators think twice.”
