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Ayr United can confirm that we will be supporting the collective campaign to boycott social media in response to continuing racist and discriminatory abuse online aimed at players, staff, supporters and others associated with the game.
Clubs all over Scotland and England will unite together in switching off all social media activity from 3pm on Friday 30th April and remain silent until 11.59pm on Monday 3rd May.
SPFL Chief Executive Neil Doncaster said :’ “Discrimination of any kind has absolutely no place in Scottish football and the online abuse received by some of those involved in our national game is absolutely abhorrent. The SPFL is committed to ensuring that Scottish football is inclusive and welcoming to all.
“Social media provides a wonderful platform for clubs of all sizes to communicate with their fans. It’s a platform that our clubs have used to great effect in recent years but it is also a medium that is being abused by a vile and mindless minority. These cowards often hide behind anonymous accounts and it is incumbent upon social media companies to actively and aggressively combat this problem.”
We at Ayr United feel the horrific personal abuse must stop as we cannot underestimate the effect it has on those on the receiving end and are proud to join a campaign stating that more has to be done to stamp out all online abuse and hate.
Online abuse and discrimination has a serious impact on the wellbeing of the people in our game and must stop.
Recently our Chairman David Smith and manager David Hopkin were delighted to support the opening of two new mental health support groups launched by Ayrshire Medical Services. The groups, Andy’s Man Club and Matter for Mary will run weekly as peer to peer support groups for men and women. The groups will deal with a whole range of issues from suicide, anxiety, depression, social isolation and much more.
To read the full statement from the SPFL regarding the Social Media Boycott click here