Kick It Out Launches New Anti-hate Campaign
Kick It Out has launched a new ‘digital first’ campaign, Take A Stand, aimed at encouraging people across to make a pledge to fight discrimination.
The campaign will see the organisation team up with Facebook and The FA in a bid to address racism in the game. Kick It Out says the campaign will give fans the confidence and the tools to confront discrimination.
As part of the campaign, Facebook will launch a new automated Messenger service for fans when they are back in stadiums. The platform will enable people to report abuse and discrimination directly to Kick It Out on matchdays.
The social network will also launch a new education programme targeted directly at fans, piloting its new training module with anti-hate charity, HOPE not Hate. It will be launched initially with the England national teams, as well as EFL clubs Derby County and Portsmouth, and will be rolled-out further in 2021.
Facebook says it will also launch educational resources through a WhatsApp messaging service. Fans can sign up to be sent information on current initiatives within football, as well as ways to report abuse.
Twitter has also committed to taking part in the Take A Stand campaign, supporting it with campaigns as well as educational initiatives to combat online hate. The network will also deliver training sessions with football clubs and police authorities, and says it now proactively removes hateful tweets, with more than one in two identified and removed without reports.
“Our Take A Stand campaign aims to tackle discrimination, but also create a culture where everyone belongs and individuals take personal responsibility for being part of the change,” said Sanjay Bhandari, Chair, Kick It Out.
“We can all do something to take a stand against hate and promote a more inclusive society. Our ambition is to turn bystanders into activists and to crowdsource solutions by capturing pledges of individual action. We want to use those pledges that we receive from the public and organisations, to turn them into insight and make anti-discrimination strategies better informed by understanding more about what people are doing on the ground.
“We know that social media can be a battleground of hate, which is why we’re working closely with Facebook and Twitter to improve that through looking at better regulation and enforcement, as well as updated and new reporting methods.”
Steve Hatch, VP, Northern Europe, Facebook, added: “Facebook and Instagram are where fans come to connect directly with their favourite players, teams and other fans and we want that to do without discrimination or abuse. We can all do something to take a stand against hate and promote a more inclusive society.
“By equipping fans with the right tools, empowering them with the right education, and raising the level of conversation around discrimination in football, we can create an environment in which silence is replaced by action and play our part in supporting the goals of Kick it Out.”
Meanwhile, Edleen John, The FA’s International, Corporate Affairs and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Director, said: “We are committed to delivering a game that is free from discrimination and it is important that everybody plays their part in helping to achieve that. Take A Stand will give fans and others involved in the game the impetus to support us on this journey and tackle this issue head-on.
“We know that discrimination exists in society and often manifests itself through football, and only by working together across the game to drive meaningful change through action, can we truly ensure the game is a safe and enjoyable environment for all.”
The campaign has also received commitments of support from other areas of the sporting landscape, with Sky Sports announcing its support for the campaign. The broadacster recently launched its own set of measures to combat online hate.
