Premier League players ready to back media blackout over racism

It is the first time in six years that collective action has been considered over racism in football

A host of Premier League players are prepared to take part in a media blackout in response to the racism row which has erupted in the wake of the abuse received by Raheem Sterling at Stamford Bridge on December 8. According to various reports, the measure - which is said to be in reaction to the media's portrayal of black footballers - would see footballers take part in a boycott of broadcast, digital and print media for a set period of time. “If action isn’t taken then we support the suggestion that sports people stage a media blackout. Enough is enough," read a statement from Sports People’s Think Tank (SPTT) on the proposed blackout. Racism and how the media perpetuates it has been discussed widely since the abuse of Sterling at Stamford Bridge, with a number of people - including Sterling himself - criticising the media and the Daily Mail in particular for the manner in which they report on young black footballers, and the influence such reporting has on the wider public. Such coverage - notably footage of former striker Dave Kitson apportioning a degree of blame from the abuse to Sterling himself - also led Bournemouth defender Tyrone Mings to recently pull out of an interview on radio station TalkSport. https://twitter.com/OfficialTM_3/status/1072243398533439488 A number of high-profile black footballers are said to have privately backed the move, while it is believed that a host of white footballers will do the same in support.