Football calls on NBA stars to help fight online abuse as the PFA reach out to LeBron James and Co about how to tackle the issue in bid to create US alliance with basketball and NFL
- The PFA are looking to ramp up their policies in the fight against online abuse
- The Premier League took part in a four-day social media boycott last weekend
- England’s top-flight was joined by other sporting and media organisations
- Sportsmail understands the league and FA is forming a trans-Atlantic alliance
- The football groups will team up with forces at NBA and NFL to combat abuse
The PFA are in talks with the NBA over forming a powerful coalition with superstar basketball players in the fight against social media hate.
Sportsmail can reveal that the English footballers’ union have opened discussions with the NBA Players Association to discuss how they can join forces in combatting the issue that has rocked sport in recent months.
It is understood talks between footballers and basketball players – organised by the PFA – have already taken place, with further dialogue planned.
The PFA are looking to LeBron James and his fellow NBA stars about forming an alliance
The Premier League and the FA are teaming up with American sports to tackle online abuse
Footballers have spoken out more this season as they highlight the online abuse they received
The PFA have also been in touch with FIFPro, world football’s player representatives, ahead of their next steps in the battle against social media abuse.
It is a move that could see some of the international game’s highest-profile players involved in campaigns.
But it is news of an alliance between English football and NBA players such as LeBron James and Steph Curry, who are among the most recognisable sportsmen in the world, that could prove the game-changer.
Earlier this month, English football embarked on an historic social-media boycott in a powerful statement against the vile abuse players have suffered in recent months.
But there is a view that any future campaigns would have far more impact if organisations such as the NBA and NFL were involved, given their global popularity.
English football took part in a four-day social media boycott over the bank holiday weekend
Sportsmail revealed on Saturday how the FA and Premier League are targeting a partnership with American sports for the next phase of the battle against discriminatory messages directed at players.
Now the PFA are emerging as a driving force in English football’s move to ensure social media companies such as Twitter and Instagram are doing all they can to eradicate abusive posts from their platforms.
It is understood the PFA were instrumental in introducing the Premier League to tech company Respondology, who have developed software which enables social media abuse to be hidden in real time, meaning that high-profile players and other targets of online hate do not see it.
Sportsmail understands England’s football groups will team up with the NBA and NFL