Thierry Henry backs Premier League for social media boycott decision

Thierry Henry has praised the Premier League for their decision to boycott social media following failure to punish offenders who abuse players online.

The player was first to embark on quitting social media after criticizing Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for failing to tackle abuse from some users instead of focusing on copyright infringement to uphold the image of their companies.

The FA, Premier League, EFL, FA Women's Super League, FA Women's Championship, PFA, LMA, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the FSA announced their decision to quit social media last Saturday from Friday, April 30 to Monday, May 3 “in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received online by players and many others connected to football.”

According to the Chief Executive of the Elite League, the decision is to communicate to the online stakeholders on the urgent need to provide the antidote to discrimination that black players suffer and the need to improve their various platforms for decency and fairness to reign. “Racist behaviour of any form is unacceptable and the appalling abuse we are seeing players receive on social media platforms cannot be allowed to continue.

"The Premier League and our clubs stand alongside football in staging this boycott to highlight the urgent need for social media companies to do more in eliminating racial hatred. We will not stop challenging social media companies and want to see significant improvements in their policies and processes to tackle online discriminatory abuse on their platforms.

The Arsenal legend told talkSPORTS he took the decision purposely to create a wave for a change although other people had already left the platforms before his decision.

He challenged the media to raise their voices for a change in the game.

“Football is powerful. The press is powerful and if we come together and the strength of the pack can achieve something.

“This is the start and hopefully it can carry on.”