The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) is to show its support for British football organisations as they go silent on social media this weekend in a show of solidarity against racism, from 3pm BST on Friday April 30 until 11.59pm BST on Monday May 3.
Initiated by a coalition that includes the Football Association, Premier League and EFL, the boycott is joined also by the FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, The Scottish Football Association, Scottish Professional Football League, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association, PGMOL, Kick It Out, Women in Football, Football Supporters’ Association, among others. Read more here.
Premiership Rugby and the England and Wales Cricket Board are among other sports organisations to have announced their participation in the blackout.
IMMAF CEO Densign White MBE, OLY, who is also chairman of diversity charity Sporting Equals, said:
“There is no room for racism in sport. There needs to be a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of athletes and participants in all its forums, including social media, where perpetrators can feel safe in their anonymity and in the knowledge that they will not be held accountable. These targeted and, at times coordinated, attacks give license to discrimination and abuse in the real world, shut down real communication through allowing bullies to create a toxic environment of fear, and discourage diversity in sport both on and off social media. In line with the values of the Olympic movement, IMMAF is wholly committed to racial and gender equity and wish to show our solidarity with other sports in getting behind this initiative.”
