WASHINGTON A former congressman who pocketed millions of dollars in bribes from defence contractors. A Republican fundraiser who paid handsome sums to illicitly lobby a presidential administration. An influential voice in conservative circles accused of duping donors who supported a border wall. Donald Trump’s final batch of more than 140 pardons and sentence commutations, […]
ANTON FERDINAND says those who post online hate must be held to account, just as footballers are for the material that they share on their social media platforms.
The former QPR defender has been on the receiving end of vile abuse since his involvement in a high-profile disciplinary case involving former England captain John Terry.
Ferdinand addressed a working group made up of football authorities, law enforcement and social media companies who will meet on an ongoing basis to tackle online hate, but he believes the double standards must be addressed.
“As footballers we are held accountable for our actions all the time why aren’t the people that are sending abuse, and the social media platforms, held to account too?” he said.
QPR have strongly condemned the “abhorrent” online abuse aimed at forward Bright Osayi-Samuel following Tuesday’s game with Norwich.
Osayi-Samuel, 22, highlighted the abuse on his Instagram account, saying: “It is disgusting and painful to be receiving messages like this.”
Some of the abuse revealed by Osayi-Samuel was racist in nature while other messages wished him ill and even death.
Osayi-Samuel scored a late penalty equaliser and then missed another chance in the 1-1 draw at Carrow Road in the Championship.
QPR chief executive Lee Hoos said: “We completely deplore the abhorrent abuse Bright has been subjected to.
“It astounds me that people feel they can freely post such comments without any fear of reprisal.
Millwall players will link arms but not take the knee at QPR match tonight
Fans arriving at The Den. Pic: John Walton
Millwall players will not ‘take the knee’ for their Championship fixture with Queens Park Rangers tonight – instead the players will stand arm-in-arm to show of “solidarity for football’s fight against discrimination.”
This comes after sections of the 2,000 supporters at The Den could be heard booing their players taking the knee at the first game attended by fans against Derby County on Saturday.
Millwall and their opponents QPR – who decided against taking the knee back in September – came to a joint decision last night ahead of what might become an emotive occasion. QPR’s Les Ferdinand, the only black director of football in the English Football League, had previously said the gesture had become “diluted” and “little more than good PR”.
1:58 Former Premier League striker Michael Chopra says he is surprised he has not been asked by football authorities to help inspire the next generation of South Asian footballers
Michael Chopra has told
Sky Sports News he does not believe the Football Association and the Premier League are doing enough to get British South Asians into football.
Former Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff striker Chopra, whose father comes from the northern Indian state of Punjab, is one of the finest footballing talents to emerge from Britain s South Asian community, making over 400 appearances in a senior career spanning almost 15 years.
Swansea s Yan Dhanda last month told