Newcastle United considering social media 'blackout'

There are plans for club social media accounts to go offline over the first weekend in May in response to online racism and abuse, according to the Daily Mail.

The proposal put to clubs follows Swansea City's week-long boycott of social media earlier this month in response to incidents of abuse online on platforms including Twitter and Instagram. The Championship club’s move was supported by Newcastle United head coach Steve Bruce who spoke about the “vile” abuse that had been aimed at him on social media in recent months.

“There would be no usual football content,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters wrote in an email to clubs.

"Instead channels would be used to put pressure on the social media companies and drive awareness of the racist and other discriminatory abuse that we continue to see appear on the platforms."