Rangers join social media boycott against online abuse in Scottish football

Rangers will join Scottish football clubs in a boycott of online social media platforms this weekend – the club’s second stand against online abuse in recent weeks.
Rangers will join Scottish football's social media boycott (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)Rangers will join Scottish football's social media boycott (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)
Rangers will join Scottish football's social media boycott (Photo by Rob Casey / SNS Group)

Players and staff at the club switched off their accounts for a week in light of abuse aimed at players – with Glen Kamara, Kemar Roofe and James Tavernier among recipients of abusive and racist messages online.

Since then several other high-profile figures in football have criticised companies and taken their own action and a weekend boycott is planned by clubs in Scotland and England.

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Rangers officials have met with social media companies to raise concerns but the club will take another stand and join the likes of Kilmarnock, Hibs and Celtic – who Steven Gerrard’s side take on this Sunday in the final Old Firm game of the season – in turning off official accounts until Monday night.

A statement from Ibrox read: “Rangers’ social media channels will close down in line with other British clubs across the weekend.

“We are proud of our players and staff who took a stand several weeks ago and boycotted social media.

“Furthermore, our positive and constructive dialogue will continue with social media channels so that we can protect our players and assists in eradicating online hate.

“As a club we are proud of the success of our ground-breaking Everyone Anyone campaign which sends a clear message of inclusion, togetherness and a zero-tolerance to all forms of discrimination on and off the pitch.

“We are proud to be a modern and diverse football club and strive to create an environment where our differences are celebrated.”

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