This archive report was first published on 24 June 2020.
On June 24, 2020, the Premier League made a significant move to combat online racist abuse by introducing a new system for players to report such incidents.
Just days after a disturbing display of racism at a Burnley match, the Premier League has stepped up its efforts to eradicate racist abuse online. The move comes as the Black Lives Matter movement gains momentum among Premier League players.
Former Arsenal forward Ian Wright has been a vocal advocate for change, sharing the appalling abuse he has suffered on social media. Many current Premier League stars have also endured similar taunts.
According to Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, online discriminatory abuse is unacceptable and tackling this issue must be a priority. He stated, 'Our central reporting system has been developed to provide a rapid response and support for any players, managers and coaches who have been victims of serious online discrimination, whether targeted at themselves or family members.'
The new system will allow abusive direct messages to be reviewed and reported to the social media platform concerned, with legal action to follow where appropriate. The Premier League has also pledged to work with the police, Crown Prosecution Service, and Kick It Out to identify and ban offenders from Premier League grounds.
