UK Government Invites Footballers To Discuss Online Harassment Prevention

JAKARTA - A number of top English footballers, including Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson and former international Karen Carney, discussed harassment and discrimination with the British government on Monday.

The meeting, which was held online featuring Minister of Culture Oliver Dowden and Minister of Sports Nigel Huddleston, was part of a series of discussions on "The Future of Football".

The UK government plans to review football's governance and issue new laws that could hold social media companies accountable for harm online. This year is the deadline for the completion of the bill by the British Parliament.

"Hearing players talk about the level of abuse they are facing is heartbreaking," Dowden said in a statement quoted by Reuters.

"Their input today has strengthened my determination to pass a new law to ensure that there is much greater accountability from social media platforms to deal with such issues."

Carney this month deleted his Twitter account after commenting on Leeds United, while working as a television pundit and later being ridiculed by the English Premier League club's official accounts, causing a flood of online harassment.

Other players attending the online discussion include Watford captain Troy Deeney, former West Ham United player Anton Ferdinand and Tyrone Mings of Aston Villa.

"The meeting was very important and I am pleased that those with the power or authority to make changes realize the seriousness of abuse against players," said Henderson.