Thierry Henry reveals English football's social media boycott was what he wanted when he deactivated his own accounts as he says top flight's action 'is my happiest moment'

  • English football revealed it will take part in a social media boycott next week
  • All Premier League, EFL and WSL players and clubs will not post for four days 
  • Thierry Henry has praised English football for the April 30 to May 3 blackout
  • The ex-Arsenal striker quit social media in March in protest against online abuse

Thierry Henry claims English football's social media boycott planned for next weekend is his 'happiest moment' as the sport aims to tackle online abuse.

The Premier League, EFL and Women's Super League announced on Saturday night that the will be taking part in a four-day social media blackout from April 30 to May 3 to combat online discrimination. The Football Association and Kick It Out group will also take part. 

Former Arsenal and France striker Henry deactivated all of his social media accounts in March in protest against platforms such as Facebook and Twitter for not doing enough to protect players from abuse and praised the work of English football following Saturday's announcement. 

Thierry Henry has described English football's social media boycott as his 'happiest moment'

Thierry Henry has described English football's social media boycott as his 'happiest moment'

Premier League, EFL and WSL players and clubs will do a social media blackout next week

Premier League, EFL and WSL players and clubs will do a social media blackout next week

Henry wrote in a column in The Sun: 'It's win, win, win - this is what I was hoping for when I announced I was coming off all the platforms and this is what I was talking about - the strength of the pack. 


'Now look - the whole of English football isn't happy with you. The social media platforms - what have you got to say? 

'This is my happiest moment. Football stands for something. Not only money. It is not just take, take, take. It is also about giving. Now it is really trying to tackle issues.

Henry praised the English teams for their stance just weeks after he quit social media himself

Henry praised the English teams for their stance just weeks after he quit social media himself

'Well done to everyone involved. We are acting, instead of talking. That is a different ball game.' 

Last month, Henry complained that the problems on the online platforms were 'too toxic to ignore' regarding 'racism, bullying and resulting mental torture to individuals'. 

A statement on the Frenchman's Instagram read, before the account was deactivated: 'I will be removing myself from social media until the people in power are able to regulate their platforms with the same vigour and ferocity that they currently do when you infringe copyright. 

Henry announced he was deleting his account because 'the torture is too toxic to ignore

Henry announced he was deleting his account because 'the torture is too toxic to ignore

'The sheer volume racism, bullying and resulting mental torture to individuals is too toxic to ignore. There HAS to be some accountability. 

'It is far too easy to create an account, use it to bully and harass without consequence and still remain anonymous. Until this changes, I will be disabling my accounts across all platforms. I'm hoping this happens soon.' 

In an exclusive interview with Sportsmail, Henry spoke about the 'strength of the pack' that football can show if all the clubs came together to highlight the issues facing online abuse via social media. 

Henry told Sportsmail last month he wanted football to show the 'strength of the pact'

Henry told Sportsmail last month he wanted football to show the 'strength of the pact'

The former striker said: 'There has been an evolution in terms of abuse being reported inside the stadium, people became braver. But now we have a new problem, the abuse has moved to social media.

'If we do not alert people to the problem then nothing happens. That is why I have taken my own action, not for applause, but to highlight the issue. Social media is a wonderful and important tool, but it needs to be safe.

'I am not putting anyone under pressure, it should be a feeling you have inside. But you should never underestimate the strength of the pack. Can that (a weekend boycott) be powerful? Yes, very powerful.' 

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