Online car retailer Cazoo has become the first major football sponsor to join the planned social media boycott this weekend.
A coalition of English football’s largest governing bodies and organisations including the Football Association, Premier League and EFL will go silent for three days on social media in a show of solidarity against racism.
The FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football and the Football Supporters’ Association will also suspend all use of their social media accounts from 3pm on Friday April 30 until 11.59pm on Monday May 3.
Other organisations are expected to join the boycott with Cazoo, the shirt sponsors of Aston Villa and Everton, the first to confirm their stance.
“In solidarity with our partners and as a stand against totally unacceptable abuse which we condemn in the strongest terms, Cazoo will be joining this boycott of social media over this period,” a Cazoo spokesperson told the PA news agency.
The move follows social media blackouts 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.
The PA news agency understands Sky Sports, who are partnered with anti-discrimination body Kick It Out, are supportive of the social media blackout.
The boycott has also been embraced by other sports with the Lawn Tennis Association confirming its involvement on Monday – but golf’s European Tour will not be joining.
