Isthmian League and Vanarama National League clubs will unite with The FA, Premier League, EFL and all members of the UK football family for a social media boycott from 3pm

on Friday, 30 April, until 11.59pm on Monday.

The wider football family is reacting to the ongoing and sustained discriminatory abuse received online by players and many others connected to football.

After receiving a letter from Kellie Discipline, the Isthmian League's CEO, Heybridge Swifts chairman Gary White is backing this united action, saying: "I personally believe we should join this as a club.

"There will always be the tiny minority of idiots who will say what they like on social media although this action is directed at the platforms themselves."

This concerted action has been scheduled to take place across a full fixture programme in the men's and women's professional game and will see clubs across the Premier League, EFL, WSL and Women's Championship switch off their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

A Football Association spokesman said: "As a collective, the game recognises the considerable reach and value of social media to our sport. The connectivity and access to supporters who are at the heart of football remains vital.

"However, the boycott shows English football coming together to emphasise that social media companies must do more to eradicate online hate, while highlighting the importance of educating people in the ongoing fight against discrimination.

"In the FA's letter of February 2021, English football outlined its requests of social media companies, urging filtering, blocking and swift takedowns of offensive posts, an improved verification process and re-registration prevention, plus active assistance for law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute originators of illegal content.

"While some progress has been made, we reiterate those requests in an effort to stem the relentless flow of discriminatory messages and ensure that there are real-life consequences for purveyors of online abuse across all platforms.

"The boycott action from football in isolation will, of course, not eradicate the scourge of online discriminatory abuse, but it will demonstrate that the game is willing to take voluntary and proactive steps in this continued fight.

"Finally, while football takes a stand, we urge the UK government to ensure its Online Safety Bill will bring in strong legislation to make social media companies more accountable for what happens on their platforms."

Edleen John, The FA's Director of International Relations, Corporate Affairs and Co-Partner for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, added: "It's simply unacceptable that people across English football and society more broadly continue to be subjected to discriminatory abuse online on a daily basis, with no real-world consequences for perpetrators.

"This needs to change quickly, and we continue to urge social media companies to act now to address this.

"We will not stop talking about this issue and will continue to work with government in ensuring that the Online Safety Bill gives sufficient regulatory and supervisory powers to Ofcom.

"Social media companies need to be held accountable if they continue to fall short of their moral and social responsibilities to address this endemic problem.

"We have seen how powerful it can be when everybody is united for the good of the English game (over the European Super League).

"We are calling on organisations and individuals across the game to join us in a temporary boycott of these social media platforms, to show solidarity and unite in the message that English football will not tolerate discrimination in any form."