UEFA Joins Social Media Boycott Campaign, Deactivates All Official Channels For 81 Hours

Illustration: UEFA socmed boycott (twitter @uefa)

JAKARTA - UEFA announced on Thursday about joining in a social media boycott campaign being promoted by British football authorities such as the FA and the Premier League to combat online violence.

Thus, all official UEFA channels on various social media will take action off from Friday, 21.00 western Indonesia time, Tuesday, 05.59 western Indonesia time, May 4.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin fully supports the initiative, saying the need for concrete action to stop the spread of hatred and violence online against footballers and other people involved in soccer competitions.

"There is violence both on the ground and on social media. It is unacceptable and must be stopped, with the help of the public and legislative authorities as well as the giant social media operators," Ceferin said.

"Allowing a culture of hatred to flourish without a touch of the law is something that is dangerous, very dangerous, not only for football but also for society in general," he added.

Ceferin also appreciated the initiatives taken by the British football authorities, which were also shown in solidarity by all the actors involved in it.

"This is the time for football to take a stand and I am impressed by the solidarity shown by the players, the club, and all stakeholders," he said.

"I invite all parties, be it players, clubs, or state associations, to file an official complaint whenever a player, coach, referee, or official becomes a victim of unacceptable online messages.

"We are fed up with cowards who hide behind their anonymity to spit out their dangerous ideology," concluded Ceferin.

UEFA will join a coalition of English footballing stakeholders by staying silent across its social media platforms this weekend.

The aim of the boycott is to show solidarity in the fight against online abuse. It will run from 16:00 CEST on Friday to 23:59 CEST on Monday.

— UEFA (@UEFA) April 29, 2021

Initiatives carried out in England are followed by the FA, Premier League, EFL (operator of the three leagues below the Premier League), the Women's Super League, and the women's second caste league.