Weekly Hit & Miss

We look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.

HIT – SOCIAL MEDIA BLACKOUT

We’ve talked already about Thierry Henry deleting his social media channels because of the lack of action taken by online platforms to address online abuse.

We also wrote earlier this year about the awful abuse footballers suffer online and why it must end but despite the letters to social media companies and criticism from authorities and politicians, nothing significant is being done to ban keyboard warriors who abuse high profile sports people.

Football authorities decided to take a stand last weekend, alongside clubs, players by staging a social media blackout to highlight and address abuse and discrimination on their platforms.

A Premier League statement read: “We want social media companies to do more to prevent the online discriminatory abuse received by players and many others across the world, which goes without any real-life consequences for the perpetrators.

“We know that a boycott alone will not eradicate this, which is why we will continue to take proactive steps to call for change.

“We will not stop challenging social media companies until discriminatory online abuse is removed from our game and wider society.”

Kick It Out, which works across all levels of football to tackle discrimination on behalf of players, fans and those who work in football, have been at the forefront of the campaign.

"This boycott signifies our collective anger," said Kick it Out's chairman Sanjay Bhandari.

"Social media is now sadly a regular vessel for toxic abuse. By removing ourselves from the platforms, we are making a symbolic gesture to those with power. We need you to act. We need you to create change.

"We need social media companies to make their platforms a hostile environment for trolls rather than for the football family."

A wide range of other organisations joined the blackout, including the England and Wales Cricket Board, first-class counties, and the Professional Cricketers' Association; all F1 drivers; a range of organisations in rugby union and rugby league; British Cycling; netball authorities; the Lawn Tennis Association; and British Horseracing.

Prince William also backed the boycott and posted on Twitter: "As President of the FA I join the entire football community in the social media boycott this weekend."

For his part, Henry was delighted that sport has come together but is under no illusions that the campaign to address online abuse will not succeed overnight.

He told CNN: "I like the fact that people actually realize that when we come together, it's ... powerful. I realized that maybe me coming of it might create a little wave in the media and it did, and making people answer some questions.

“We can actually make people aware of our disapproval and hope that things can change. If you don't do anything, nothing would ever change. Like I always said, you know, if you try to do something, you might succeed or not, but you're making people aware and along the way you will have an impact.”

MISS – TONY CLUBB

On a weekend when sport is united in promoting a message of anti-racism, what a pity that rugby league was embroiled in a race storm.

Wigan Warriors beat Hull to secure their sixth successive win of the season but the match was dominated by reports that forward Tony Clubb made a racist remark to Andre Savelio during the match.

New Zealand-born Savelio said that he had intended to deal with the issue himself during the game but when Clubb was taken off, Savelio reported the matter to the referee, James Child.

He later posted on Twitter that: “For him to call me a stupid Polynesian c*** in a game where 30 per cent are of that heritage, hell I won’t sit quietly.

“I’m just hopeful a camera or microphone clocked it and it’s dealt with. I’ve seen these things happen enough to know most of the time there’s never enough proof on these – but I swear it on my mum’s …”

To their credit, Wigan dealt with the matter quickly internally and made a statement.

“Wigan Warriors and Hull FC, alongside the ten other clubs in the Betfred Super League, continue to stand firm against all types of discrimination and abuse.

“Equality matters, and Wigan Warriors and Hull FC are united in this message.

Wigan Warriors executive director, Kris Radlinski, added: “There is no room for racism in sport in any form and we take the accusations made by Hull’s Andre Savelio very seriously. Our immediate intention is to work closely with Hull and the governing body to gather all the facts and support the investigation process that is in place.

“In the short term, Tony Clubb will be suspended from all Club activities. Tony’s evidence will be taken into consideration by all parties moving forward and his welfare will remain a responsibility of Wigan Warriors throughout the investigation.”

Hull FC chief executive, James Clark, said: “Andre has the full support of everyone at our club and we will work hard to ensure this incident is thoroughly investigated and that his voice can be heard. Racial abuse is not acceptable in any form.

“This is obviously an emotive and highly personal subject, and he has access to the best possible welfare network should it be required.

“A zero-tolerance approach to all forms of abuse is prevalent in Rugby League – we are a welcoming sport that prides itself on its core values of inclusion, community, diversity and respect.

“We would also like to note the professional, transparent and sympathetic approach to the handling of this matter by Kris Radlinski and Wigan Warriors.”

In 2017, Justin Carney was suspended for just eight matches - and fined only ￡300 - after being found guilty of racially abusing Toronto’s Ryan Bailey.

Clubb was charged with a Grade F Unacceptable language based on national or ethnic origin and on Tuesday evening an RFL tribunal banned him for eight matches with a ￡500 fine.

The tribunal statement read: “We have considered the evidence of both players and the circumstances surrounding the allegation and find that we are reasonably satisfied, taking into account the seriousness of the charge, that the words were said, albeit in the heat of the moment, but nevertheless were said.

“They do constitute unacceptable language based on [a player’s] racial and ethnic origin and therefore we find that this was serious misconduct which has brought the game into disrepute.

“On the other hand we have considered the character references placed before us by Wigan Warriors from those who know [Tony Clubb] well at the club. We do not find that he is a racist, simply that on this occasion he used unacceptable language in the heat of the moment.”

Many will say that the leniency of the punishment undermines the anti-racism cause and makes a mockery of the RFL’s stance regarding tackling discrimination.

It may have been unfortunate timing for the sport to be dealing with an incident like this so soon after the social media blackout, and rugby league missed an opportunity to lead the way.

This story is set to rumble on….