Bailey: 'We can only end racist abuse if we work together'

The FA is committed to bringing an end to online racist abuse aimed at footballers - and has urged social media networks to do more to help the fight.

Speaking to Channel 4’s Dispatches programme, due to be aired at 8pm on Monday night, The FA’s director of governance and regulation Darren Bailey said that abuse of black and minority ethnic (BAME) players is on the rise and must be addressed.

“Clearly abuse on social media is something we're mindful of. We have collaborated with the DPP on social media guidelines. But I think in this space, Twitter itself, and other forms of social media, could be doing more.”

According to anti-discriminatory body Kick it Out, over 40 percent of BAME players in the Premier League have experienced racist abuse on social networks, with England internationals Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Glen Johnson among those targeted. That statistic can be set against a 43 per cent rise in reported incidents of such abuse over the past year.

Bailey added: “Social media has brought many positives to the game, but has also unleashed unintended consequences. We would welcome and support more robust interventions which help counter discrimination.”

The FA is committed to bringing an end to online racist abuse aimed at footballers - and has urged social media networks to do more to help the fight.

One club at the forefront of the fight against discrimination in the game is Brighton & Hove Albion - and Bailey said it is imperative the clubs work closely with authorities to drive it out of the game. 

"It may not be working as effectively as we wish and we have to continue to squeeze out those number of incidents wherever we're able to do so. We can only do this collectively.

"So we need the work of the police, the crown prosecution service, we need the work of the judiciary."

You can report discrimination via the Kick It Out app. Click here for more details.