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Allardyce questions whether enough is being done about racist abuse

West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has questioned whether social media companies are doing enough to...
Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.37 29 Jan 2021


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Allardyce questions whether en...

Allardyce questions whether enough is being done about racist abuse

Richie McCormack
Richie McCormack

19.37 29 Jan 2021


Share this article


West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has questioned whether social media companies are doing enough to tackle racist abuse. 

The Premier League club are in contact with West Midlands Police after midfielder Romaine Sawyers received racist abuse online during the Baggies' 5-0 defeat to Manchester City.

West Brom have described the message as "abhorrent".

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The Sawyers incident comes in the same week that Manchester United were sprung into condemning racist messages posted on the social media profiles of Axel Tuanzebe and Anthony Martial.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said on Friday, "If you can create anonymous accounts, abuse people, of course it's not right.

"We'll work together with everyone to stop this nonsense."

Allardyce has taken Solskjaer's baton, saying social media companies need to do more to combat such abuse.

A spokesperson for Instagram's owners Facebook said, "There is no place for racism on Instagram and we are committed to removing it when we find it.

"We know there is more to do and we will continue to work closely with clubs, players and football authorities to investigate instances of discrimination and collectively tackle this issue."

While Twitter issued a similar statement, saying, "We have proactively engaged and continue to collaborate with our valued partners in football to identify ways to tackle this issue collectively and will continue to play our part in curbing this unacceptable behaviour — both online and offline."

"It leaves a big question about whether reporting it is enough," Allardyce said on Friday.

"For the police to have to deal with this is something they can do without. Romaine – or any black person – should not have to put up with this.

"He is extremely upset as anybody would be. We have gone through the right channels and see what the outcome is. More than Romaine has suffered.

"It does become a greater thing to put right. But who does it lie with. Should a player take legal action?

"That is an avenue the PFA and all the players get together and choose the right way to go. How do we hold people accountable for what is posted on social media sites?

"I am not qualified to know where to go with it but that is what people are suggesting for the Government to change the laws.

"Social media sites need to act in a more responsible way. We have to do our best to cut this out."

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Anthony Martial Axel Tuanzebe Racism Romaine Sawyers Sam Allardyce West Brom West Bromwich Albion

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