MK Dons will unite with English football for a social media boycott from 3pm on Friday until 11.59pm on Monday 3 May.
The Club will switch off its social media accounts, along with clubs across the Premier League and EFL, in response to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received online by players and many others connected to football.
mkdons.com will continue to be updated throughout the weekend, with supporters still able to follow the Sky Bet League One fixture with Fleetwood Town either by watching on iFollow MK Dons, listening to live match commentary or following text updates on the Match Centre.
Team news, which is usually published on social media, will be made available on mkdons.com from 2pm. Post-match interviews and highlights will be posted, as usual, on iFollow MK Dons following the game.
Supporters needing to get in contact with MK Dons should email boxoffice@mkdons.com. The Box Office will re-open from 10am on Tuesday.
As a collective, the game recognises the considerable reach and value of social media to our sport. The connectivity and access to supporters who are at the heart of football remains vital.
However, the boycott shows English football coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination.
Boycott action from football in isolation will, of course, not eradicate the scourge of online discriminatory abuse, but it will demonstrate that the game is willing to take voluntary and proactive steps in this continued fight.
Finally, while football takes a stand, we urge the UK Government to ensure its Online Safety Bill will bring in strong legislation to make social media companies more accountable for what happens on their platforms.
Enough is enough.
